Police investigate death of American Spine Center’s physician accused in federal kickback scheme
The Frederick (Md.) Police Department is investigating the death of Sandeep Sherlekar, MD, co-founder of the American Spine Center. He was found unresponsive in the center Friday morning, and pronounced dead at the scene. The center had video surveillance and police are reviewing it. A federal jury indicted Dr. Sherlekar and four other medical professionals in June for a kickback scheme that allegedly linked $1.37 million back to the practice.
Medtronic, Boston Scientific lead neuromodulation market
The global neuromodulation market is anticipated to hit more than $5 billion by 2020, according to a WiseGuyReports analysis. An increasing geriatric population and a growing number of neurological disease cases are spurring market growth. In 2015, North America led the neuromodulation market, with Europe and the Asia-Pacific region following. Medtronic, Boston Scientific, St Jude Medical, Liva Nova and Nevro lead the market.
DOJ works to block payers’ $338M lawsuit against the ACA
Moda Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina filed a $338 million lawsuit that claims the government failed to pay the insurers money owed under the Affordable Care Act’s risk-corridor program. The DOJ says the government should not be held responsible for the payments as Congress had “directly spoken” about limiting the use of federal dollars in the risk-corridor program, and the government did not give a definitive deadline for repaying insurers.
Dr. Robert Watkins performs spinal disc surgery on Houston Texans’ J.J. Watt
Robert Watkins, MD, performed a spinal disc surgery on Houston Texans’ star defensive lineman J.J. Watt. After having two spine surgeries during the offseason on the same disc, Mr. Watt needed a third surgery to correct the issue. Dr. Watkins, of California-based Watkins Spine, is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon. He has extensive experience in spine surgery and in treating athletes.
Stryker’s spine division introduces LITe BIO Delivery System
Stryker’s LITe BIO Delivery System is a hand-held device used to facilitate bone graft material delivery to spinal surgery sites. It is designed to simplify graft delivery and offer a direct visualization of graft placement. Surgeons may use any type of autograft, allograft or synthetic bone graft material with the LITe BIO Delivery System.
ChoiceSpine names new vice president of biologics
ChoiceSpine hired Christy Cote as vice president of biologics. She has more than 14 years of experience in stem cell technology, surgical implants and regenerative therapies. Prior to her current position, Ms. Cote was vice president of biologics with Amendia and biologics regional vice president of Orthofix.
Dr. Angus McBryde Jr. passes away after car accident
Angus McBryde Jr., MD, was pronounced dead at the scene after a car accident early Tuesday morning, in which his car left the road and hit several trees. He was 79 years old. The accident is still under investigation. Dr. McBryde was interim chair of the University of South Alabama’s department of orthopedic surgery, located in Mobile.
67% of NFL players return to high-level of play after cervical spine surgery
Chicago-based Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine researchers found most NFL players who have surgery for a herniated disc in the cervical spine make it back on the field at normal function. The researchers found, on average, players continued playing in the NFL for approximately 44 games and three years post-surgery. The study also revealed the players’ performance scores, based on NFL game statistics, didn’t change significantly between those players with upper-level CDH and those with lower-level injuries.
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