From a revived lawsuit against a prominent commercial payer to a patent infringement case and a tainted spine product that may have gotten a patient sick, here are three spine cases that made headlines in the past month:

The Novartis gene therapy drug Zolgensma has led to significant improvements in motor function for presymptomatic children with spinal muscular atrophy, European Pharmaceutical Review reported June 21.

While CMS' decision last year to gradually phase out the inpatient-only list has been widely welcomed by the spine community, other regulatory changes related to reduced reimbursement and increased prior authorization requirements have not.

Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, N.Y., has become the first hospital in the region to offer the Mako SmartRobotics system for joint replacements, InformNY.com reported June 18.

The Bone & Joint Center in Albany, N.Y., saw patient volumes decrease by about half during the COVID-19 pandemic and still is seeing some reluctance from patients to resume care for orthopedic conditions, the Albany Business Review reported June 18.

A 20-year-old baseball player from Fairfax, Va.-based George Mason University died after complications from Tommy John surgery, The New York Times reported June 19.

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-based American Orthopedic Partners is expanding with investment from Stone Point Capital, a private equity company, and two legendary orthopedic surgeons joining as board members.

A 91,000-square-foot orthopedic surgery center at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville has reached its structural completion.

A spine surgeon who performed a unique approach to a spinal fusion and nine more surgeons to know:

Private equity among spine and orthopedic practices has grown steadily over the past few years. Recently, a 21-physician spine practice in Lawrenceville, Ga., snagged private equity investment.

As orthopedic surgery has evolved, culture has become king, according to Nitin Khanna, MD, of Munster, Ind.-based Spine Care Specialists, who believes a short path to partnership, minimum buy-in and a collegial group of surgeon-mentors is ideal for those seeking to join an orthopedic group.

Orthopedic implants are expensive and as healthcare organizations reevaluate costs, surgeons may face more scrutiny about their choices.

A Delaware man is suing Aziyo Biologics and Medtronic alleging he was infected with tuberculosis after receiving an infected spine allograft, which was produced and distributed by the two companies.

Neurosurgeons at Marcus Neuroscience Institute in Boca Raton, Fla., completed the center's first spine surgery using the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol.

The Norton Neuroscience Institute opened June 17 at Louisville, Ky.-based Norton Healthcare.

From new board appointees to a neurostimulator snagging FDA approval, here are four key updates from spine and orthopedic device companies in the last week:

To maintain independence in an increasingly challenging environment, independent orthopedic practices are seeking strategic partnerships with larger healthcare entities.

Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Advanced Disc Replacement Spinal Restoration Center is reportedly the first in the state to use the Emsculpt device to strengthen and rehabilitate patients' muscles after injury or pre- or post-surgery.

A $3.3 billion expansion at Columbus-based Nationwide Children's Hospital will include an orthopedic surgery center and a 12-story inpatient tower, The Columbus Dispatch reported June 16.

Medtronic, Stryker and Zimmer Biomet are all leaders in the medical device space for spine and orthopedics.