From a surgeon debuting augmented reality in his state to another recognized by the National Association of Spine Specialists, here are four spine surgeons making headlines over the past week:

Interest in augmented reality and virtual reality has grown significantly over the past decade, stemming from a desire to limit complications associated with instrumented spine surgery and improving procedural efficiency.

The first augmented reality-assisted spine surgery in Georgia has been completed by Justin Bundy, MD, at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, Fox news affiliate WFXG reported March 3.

Here are six spine and neurosurgeons who joined new practices or gained new titles in February:

Amandeep Bhalla, MD, was named director of the Spine Center at MemorialCare's Long Beach (Calif.) Medical Center.

The National Association of Spine Specialists, the advocacy arm of the North American Spine Society, highlighted David Gendelberg, MD, whose main goal is to establish an improved system for prior authorization.

There is a growing consensus that lumbar total disc replacement is a viable option for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease, according to a study published in The Spine Journal.

From two surgeons debuting an interbody device to another joining a new practice, here are five spine surgeons making the news over the past week:

The owner of Texas Center for Orthopedic and Spinal Disorders in Fort Worth was sentenced Feb. 25 to 10 years in prison for his role in a $10 million healthcare fraud scheme.

Here are the most-read articles from Becker's Spine Review during the week of Feb. 22-26:

Eight surgeons discuss the future of motion preservation in the cervical and lumbar spine and how its development will affect spinal fusion.

Two neurosurgeons from the University of California San Francisco completed the first spine surgery with Carlsmed's aprevo, a patient-specific interbody for the treatment of adult spinal deformity.

Jax Spine & Pain Centers in Jacksonville, Fla., has enrolled the first patient in the Upgrade Study, which will examine long-term, real-world outcomes to understand the effect of Medtronic's Differential Target Multiplexed programming for spinal cord stimulation patients.

Dina Randazzo, DO, a neurologist/neuro-oncologist in the department of neurosurgery at Durham, N.C.-based Duke Health, died Feb. 20 after a long battle with cancer.

Todd Lanman, MD, founder of Lanman Spinal Neurosurgery in Beverly Hills, Calif., has been named one of Los Angeles Magazine's top doctors for 2021, according to a Feb. 22 news release.

Wayne State University in Detroit named Sonia Eden, MD, interim chair of its neurosurgery department, effective Feb. 24, while a search is conducted for a permanent chair.

Ali Mesiwala, MD, a neurosurgeon specializing in minimally invasive spine surgery, joined Newport Beach, Calif.-based Disc Sports & Spine Center Feb. 22.

Here are the most-read articles from Becker's Spine Review during the week of Feb. 15-19:

On the back of two-year data comparing the M6-C cervical disc with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion published in The Spine Journal, eight surgeons discuss the future of total disc replacement in spine:

From revamping codes to reversing prior authorization requirements and increasing reimbursement, six spine surgeons discuss CMS changes that would enhance spine care.