NASS gives guidance on common but not always necessary treatment.
The North American Spine Society released a list of specific tests and treatments commonly ordered but “not always necessary” as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign. A multidisciplinary task force made recommendations, which include not recommending bed rest for more than 48 hours when treating low back pain or performing elective spinal injections without imaging guidance, unless contraindicated.
Survival rates higher for VCF surgery than nonoperative treatment.
Researchers in the department of orthopedic surgery at The Johns Hopkins University/Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center found survival rate was 42.3 percent for nonoperative treatment, 49.7 percent for vertebroplasty and 59.9 percent for kyphoplasty among Medicare patients.
FDA granted approval to human stem cell trial for spinal cord injury treatment.
Newark, N.J.-based StemCells, a biotech company, received FDA permission to begin testing an experimental stem cell therapy in humans with spinal cord injuries.
Hospital for Special Surgery spine surgeons develop patient expectations survey.
The survey was developed through interviews with patients that had open-ended questions about their expectations of surgery, administering the survey twice to assess reliability and selecting items based on responses and clinical relevance.
Leigh Valley Health to transform Westfield Hospital into spine, total joint facility.
Leigh Valley Health Network has agreed to purchase Westfield Hospital in South Whitehall Township, Pa., and intends to convert the hospital into its Center for Orthopedic Medicine.
AANS sends disagreement letter on spinal coding edits.
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons sent a letter of disagreement to the Medical Director for the National Correct Coding Initiative Niles R. Rosen, MD, responding to a new procedure edit for spine surgery codes. The most recent letter disagrees with NCCI’s explanation, which pertains to CPT codes 22630 and 22633, and says the codes do not represent the surgical services performed.
Neurosurgery, orthopedics to contribute to medical tourism market growth to $32.5B in 2019.
The global market for medical tourism, worth $10.5 billion in 2012, is expected to grow to $32.5 billion by 2019. Specialties including neurosurgery and orthopedics are among the medical services commonly sought out by medical tourists.
