From findings on opioid use, prior authorization and spine navigation, here are 10 key studies Becker’s reported on in the first quarter of 2026.
1. Carlsmed’s aprevo implant for lumbar spine surgery had reduced complication-related reoperations compared to conventional stock devices, according to two-year data.
2. Three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion saw stronger outcomes when supplemented with a circumferential cervical fusion using an investigational posterior cervical stabilization system, a study in Spine found.
3. Over five years, subsequent reoperation rates for single-level lumbar discectomy reached 14.4%, according to a study published in Spine.
4. Endoscopic spine surgery has been growing steadily in the U.S., but a barrier to surgeon adoption is its learning curve. A systematic review published in the March 2026 issue of The Spine Journal examined the learning curves for uniportal and biportal endoscopic spine techniques and found some differences between the two.
5. Medicare’s spinal-deformity-specific diagnosis-related group distribution has some limitations when it comes to understanding the nuances of surgeries, according to a study in the March 1 edition of Spine.
6. Prior authorizations for adult degenerative spine disease patients led to delays in care without improving costs, according to a study from the OrthoCarolina Research Institute team.
7. Ninety-five percent of adolescent athletes with lumbar spine stress fractures recovered without surgery, according to research from New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery.
8. Minimally invasive spine surgery was associated with reduced opioid consumption, with endoscopic procedures having the lowest average use, according to a study published March 18 for the Global Spine Journal.
9. A rare subtype of neuron from transplanted stem cells can reconnect spinal motor circuits and activate leg muscles after injury, offering new insight for spinal cord repair strategies, according to a study published in Nature Communications.
10. O-arm intraoperative navigation was found to be safe and accurate in a 15-year study of cases involving thoracolumbar and sacral pedicle screw insertion, according to a study in the April 1 issue of Spine.
At the Becker's 23rd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC + The Future of Spine Conference, taking place June 11-13 in Chicago, spine surgeons, orthopedic leaders and ASC executives will come together to explore minimally invasive techniques, ASC growth strategies and innovations shaping the future of outpatient spine care. Apply for complimentary registration now.
