Like all specialties, spine surgery is unique and has its own set of rules and guidelines. Here are the things spine surgeons wish other healthcare professionals knew about the profession:

Edward DelSole, MD, has performed the first lumbar spinal fusion surgery with a lifetime guarantee at Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger Community Medical Center. 

Research from New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery found 3D imaging was better than 2D radiographs for confirming pedicle screw placement in spine surgery.

Healthcare technology company Aclarion has added Alpesh Patel, MD, co-director of Chicago-based Northwestern Medicine Center for Spine Health, as a key opinion leader and physician adviser. 

Pinehurst (N.C.) Surgical Clinic has completed the first trial cases using 3Spine's Motus device, an alternative to spinal fusion surgery. 

Another spine surgeon was convicted of accepting bribes for performing surgeries at the now-defunct Pacific Hospital in Long Beach, Calif.

Becker's reported on four key studies in spine and orthopedics since Feb. 13:

Christopher Battista, MD, of Lowcountry Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Summerville, S.C., performed the state's first surgery using a 3D-printed custom implant.

Short telomere length was linked to an increased risk of complications after spinal deformity surgery, according to a study in the Journal of Nerosurgery.

Access to Centinel Spine's Prodisc L lumbar total disc replacement system is expanding as Aetna has updated its guidelines to include one-level lumbar total disc replacement in its coverage. 

Many spine surgeons do work to push for awareness and advocacy for their colleagues and patients. Ten spine surgeons told Becker's about the issues that matter to them.

IMAC Holdings sold its retail spine company, The BackSpace, to Curis Functional Health.

Here are five spine surgeons who moved to new practices or changed their titles in February:

Spine Care Technologies formed a new advisory board made up of four members.

Rick Price, MD, PhD, completed his 50th case using Augmedics' Xvision augmented reality spine system, the medtech company said in a Feb. 27 LinkedIn post. 

Salem (Ohio) Regional Medical Center hired spine surgeon David Prior, MD, Salem News reported Feb. 24.

Neurosurgeon Linda Liau, MD, PhD, and spine surgeon Langston Holly, MD, were the only woman resident and Black resident when they graduated from Los Angeles-based UCLA Medical Center nearly 25 years ago.

The average price of a total disc replacement in New York City, the largest city in the U.S., is $32,521, according to Healthcare Bluebook, a price transparency tool.

For many people, a morning and night routine can help with preparing for a busy day, and the same goes for spine surgeons. Here's how six spine surgeons say they like to prepare ahead for their workdays:

Todd Peters, MD, joined DISC Surgery Center at Newport Beach (Calif.) as a physician partner, and Andre Schotte was named administrator of the ASC.