Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for Oct. 1, 2015.
UW-Madison receives $250k donation for neurosurgery department
The department of neurosurgery at University of Wisconsin Madison received a $250,000 donation from the J.P. Cullen Foundation. The money will go toward research investigating brain recovery post illness and injury.
Global spinal implants market to hit $15.7B by 2020
The global spinal implants and devices market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.6 percent from 2015 to 2020, according to a MarketsandMarkets report. Prevalence of spinal disorders, development of technologically advanced spinal devices, aging population and demand for minimally invasive spine surgery are all driving the spinal implants and devices market. The Asia-Pacific market is expected to grow the fastest at a CAGR of 8.2 percent.
US to award $700M to enhance patient care
The United States will grant nearly $700 million to health departments, hospital groups, physician associations and others to improve patient care. Funded under the Affordable Care Act, the grants were give to nearly 40 national and regional healthcare networks and groups. Those in favor of the initiative claim it will lower healthcare costs despite growing health spending costs.
How the global healthcare economy will impact US providers
Trends in the global healthcare economy include rapidly expanding hospitals overseas, partnerships abroad between country's healthcare providers to cut wait times, partnerships nationally between hospitals to provider better treatment and an increasing number of patients willing to travel overseas for lower cost treatment.
Study finds PEEK isn’t cost-effective
Researchers studied whether PEEK implants are a cost-effective option for spine surgery, in a Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques study. PEEK's cost per quality-adjusted life year for cervical fusion was $3,328 compared to autografts and allografts, which cost around $2,492. Researchers concluded PEEK is not cost-effective compared to allograft or autograft for use in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
Stryker Navigation's SpineMask tracker cuts down incisions during spine surgery
Stryker Navigation designed the SpineMask Tracker, the first non-invasive patient tracker that doesn't require another incision for tracking during minimally invasive spine surgery. SpineMask Tracker allows automatic intraoperative mask registration, which uses a software algorithm to match a patient's anatomy to the intraoperative image.
Medtronic pays $500M US tax charge for Ireland move
Medtronic will pay $500 million in a one-time U.S. tax charge after acquiring Covidien and moving headquarters to Ireland in a tax inversion strategy earlier this year. In an SEC filing, Medtronic reported reorganizing the Covidien business to reduce cash and investments that U.S.-controlled subsidiaries abroad hold. The company plans to return at least 50 percent of its free cash flow to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.
Nexxt Spine appoints 3 new leaders
Nexxt Spine welcomed Bill Del Russo and George Sims to its team and vice present of sales and central sales director, as well as appointed Mark Medina western sales director.