Consolidation is rife across the healthcare industry, and it is happening among physicians, payers, corporate entities and hospital groups.

Alexander Vaccaro, MD, PhD, president of Philadelphia-based Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, shared his expertise on a variety of spine and orthopedic topics in 2022. Here are five insights to know:

Nicholas Shepard, MD, of Nashville-based Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance, completed the first augmented reality-assisted spine surgery in the state, the practice said in a Dec. 8 tweet.

Aetna has settled a class-action lawsuit regarding its artificial disc replacement coverage, and spine surgeons have their eye on the insurer's future policy shift.

Frank Cammisa, MD, completed the first augmented reality-assisted spine surgery at New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery.

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled Dec. 6 that lawsuits involving about 100 former patients of Atiq Durrani, MD, can go forward, FOX 19 reported.

The National Spine Health Foundation launched a coalition for patient education, the organization said Dec. 6.

Jake Measom, MD, performed southwest Wyoming's first spine jack procedure, The Kemmerer Gazette reported Dec. 5.

Robert Bray, MD, a surgeon at Newport Beach, Calif.-based DISC Sports & Spine Center, performed surgery to fuse neck vertebrae on former motocross star Carey Hart, according to a Dec. 1 Instagram post from the racer. 

Aetna Life Insurance reached a settlement to resolve a 239-person class action lawsuit over its coverage of lumbar artificial disc replacements.

Steven Cyr, MD, who has dual fellowship training in orthopedic and cosmetic surgery, developed a new liposuction technique called OrthoSculpt.

Former New York orthopedic surgeon Spyros Panos was sentenced to 111 months in prison for fraud and identity theft charges he pled guilty to in 2020, according to the Department of Justice, Southern District of New York.

Ground was broken on a brain and spine hospital for Ascension St. Vincent in Indianapolis, Inside Indiana Business reported Nov. 30.

Here are seven spine surgeons moving to new practices or adding to their titles in November:

Becker's has reported on three spine and orthopedic lawsuits since Oct. 29.

Powell (Wyo.) Valley Healthcare and the estate of Clinton Devin, MD, are being sued by a former patient over a 2020 surgery, the Powell Tribune reported Nov. 25.

The New York State Department of Health has awarded New York City-based Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research with a $3.6 million grant to study spinal cord stimulation and brain implant technology. 

Irvine, Calif.-based biotech company HippoFi has debuted its new spine surgery solution, Purbridge, a new form of active bioglass. 

Here are five spine practices to know:

Spinal device company Aurora Spine has reported a 26 percent increase in sales in quarter three, compared to the same time last year, according to its Q3 operating results released on Nov. 21.