Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for Oct. 1, 2014.
Device company payments to physicians total around $3.5 billion
From August to December 2013, medical drug and device companies paid around $3.5 billion to physicians for speaking engagements, consultations, research and more. The data was released under the Sunshine Act, requiring device companies to disclose payments to physicians worth more than $10 — including dinners and other expenses.
AMA publishes new CPT code for MIS SI joint fusion
The new CPT code is 27279 for minimally invasive surgical sacroiliac joint fusion and will be effective Jan. 1, 2015. The SI joint is the pain generator in up to 22 percent of low back patients.
K-wire safety: How common are breaches in spine surgery?
Researchers examined 525 consecutive percutaneous pedicle screw placements retrospectively and found that there were seven anterior breaches and three of the breaches were minor.
Orthofix numbers blunder: Still no 2Q financial report, CFO resigns
Orthofix CFO Mark Heggestad resigned due to "personal circumstances" amid controversy as the company works to update financial statements from the past few years that were based on wrong numbers. The company delayed releasing second quarter financial reports for 2014 until they were able to adjust their calculations.
NuVasive grows globally, opens European Center of Excellence
The company established an International Operation Centre in Waterford, Ireland, although NuVasive hasn't announced plans for inversion yet. In the global spine market, NuVasive is the third largest player with a spine portfolio of more than 90 unique products.
Medtronic may make changes on Covidien deal after all
Medtronic may ask to cut it's $43 billion offer to acquire Covidien after new Treasury Department regulations were introduced to stymie tax-inversion deals. The new proposed regulations would make the Medtronic-Covidien deal more expensive and wouldn't allow Medtronic to finance the acquisition with overseas cash.
Study examines trends in hospital readmissions after spinal tumor surgery
The researchers found that the unplanned hospital readmission rate was 6.1 percent for primary tumors and 18.8 percent for metastatic tumors after 30 days. There were 33 patients with primary tumors and 164 patients with metastatic tumors.
Amedica names Dr. Sonny Bal CEO
Dr. Bal is a professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Missouri in Columbia, and focuses on joint replacement surgery. His research interests include ceramic materials in orthopedic surgery, and bioactive glasses. He has served as a member of Amedica's board of directors since February 2012, and as its chairman since Aug. 20.
More articles on spine:
5 must-reads about The Sunshine Act
Lower resident hours do impact spine surgery outcomes — but not the way intended
5 trends in hospital readmissions after spinal tumor surgery