Spine

Spine surgeons are bracing for a shift after Democratic proposal and a Republican alternative addressing ACA subsidies recently failed to pass a Senate vote. Senate Democrats advocated for a three-year ACA tax credit extension, and Republicans’ alternative focused on health…

Spine and orthopedic surgeons are among the physicians with the highest average compensation. 10 stats to know: 1. Orthopedics saw a 3% decline in average annual pay, according to a survey from Medscape. Orthopedics is the highest-paid specialty with an average annual salary of…

Companion Spine earned the FDA’s premarket approval for its DIAM spinal stabilization system, according to a Dec. 15 news release. DIAM is the first posterior motion-preserving device approved in the U.S., and it is designed to address moderate-to-severe primary low…

Some independent spine and orthopedic practices have turned to private equity deals to stay afloat amid financial headwinds and scale in recent years. And private equity continues to grow in the specialties. However, not all private equity partners are equal,…

Medical City Weatherford (Texas) added a spine surgery program for the first time in more than a decade, according to a Dec. 12 news release. The hospital’s new program includes posterior lumbar laminectomy and discectomy and anterior cervical discectomy and…

More than 15 spine and orthopedic surgeons have been honored in 2025. Note: This is not an exhaustive list. 1. Brian Cole, MD, of Chicago-basedMidwest Orthopaedics at Rush, earned the 2025 Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation Clinical Research Award. He was recognized…

Sometimes taking a chance makes all the difference. Four spine surgeons shared the gambles they took in their work this year from changing patient approaches to pursuing further education. Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity. Question: What’s a risk…

UConn Health’s Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Spine in Farmington, Conn., earned Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Blue Distinction Center+ for spine surgery, according to a Dec. 11 news release. Designation is based on evaluations for quality and outcomes, along with data submitted…

The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery issued coverage recommendation for Mainstay Medical’s ReActiv8 neurostimulation, the medtech company said Dec. 11. ISASS’ statement affirms support for coverage by payers of implantable restorative neurostimulation, according to a news release.…

Stanley Hoang, MD, performed the world’s first awake spinal fusion using a dual approach, KSLA reported Dec. 10. Dr. Hoang, who also performed performed Ochsner LSU Health’s (Shreveport, La) first awake spinal discectomy in 2024, used a combination of lateral…