Becker’s reported on six spine-related studies since July 3.
1. Endoscopic spine patients were less likely to need readmission 30 days after surgery compared to traditional methods. Researchers conducted a retrospective multicenter analysis to compare 30-day readmission rates in endoscopic spinal decompression or discectomy spine patients with those who had other spine surgery techniques.
2. The first year of a bundled payment program for outpatient spine surgery was associated with lower spending compared to inpatient cases. The cohort study used Medicare claims and differences-in-differences analysis. Outpatient and inpatient back and neck except spinal fusion patients between 2013 and 2019 were included. Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced was associated with a differential reduction of $1,201 in total episode spending. Return inpatient admissions were 2.2% lower compared to hospitals that didn’t participate in bundles.
3. An analysis of outpatient cervical disc replacements completed over six years at two DISC Surgery Center locations found the procedure can be done safely and efficiently at multiple levels at an ASC. Data from 1,043 patients and 1,684 cervical discs total were analyzed between 2018 and 2024. Patients were treated at DISC Surgery Center in Newport Beach, Calif. and Marina del Rey, Calif. No patient had immediate postoperative transfers, there were no blood transfusions and no readmissions within the immediate perioperative period. All patients were able to go home within 24 hours of surgery.
4. Single-level cervical degenerative disc disease saw better outcomes when addressed with disc replacement instead of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, according to a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. The meta-analysis found that the disc replacement group has greater blood loss than ACDF. However disc replacement had a higher neurological success rate, an increased range of motion and lower scores on neck disability index as well as visual analog scales compared to ACDF.
5. A study of Providence Medical Technology’s Corus posterior cervical stabilization system in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion found it was a better option than ACDF alone for three-level degenerative disc disease. The randomized controlled trial included 227 patients across 18 U.S. sites and assessed through 24 months. It compared outcomes between standard ACDF and ACDF with Corus, which is designed for posterior fixation with minimal tissue disruption. After 12 months, patients who had tissue-sparing circumferential cervical fusion had a 61% composite fusion success rate. That figure was 17% for ACDF-only patients.
6. A newly identified group of spinal cord nerve cells could hold the key to improving breathing in people with spinal cord injuries or certain neurological diseases. Researchers found that a specific set of interneurons in the brain and spinal cord helps boost breathing when the body is challenged — such as during exercise, high altitude or when carbon dioxide levels in the blood rise. In genetically modified mice, blocking these nerve signals impaired the ability to breathe properly under high carbon dioxide conditions.
