Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for Jan. 4, 2018.
DePuy Synthes sues ex-employee over breach of contract
DePuy Synthes filed a complaint against a former employee who allegedly went on to solicit former customers with new employer Zimmer Biomet, the Penn Record reports. DePuy Synthes argues the former employee is "armed with the extensive body of confidential and trade secret information entrusted to him," while employed with the company.
BCBSA upgrades quality evidence rating for MIS SI joint fusion
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association updated its quality evidence recommendation for minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion using triangular implants. BCBSA upgraded its rating to "moderate" quality evidence, which indicates sufficient evidence to determine how the technology affects health outcomes. The insurer has a four-tiered rating system outlining evidence as: substantial, moderate, low to none and uncertain.
Medtronic changes leadership with 2 executive appointments
Bob White will take on the roles of executive vice president and president of the Medtronic's Minimally Invasive Therapies Group and Chris Lee is the new Asia-Pacific region president. The company shifted its leadership due to former Minimally Invasive Therapies Group Executive Vice President Bryan Hanson leaving to become president and CEO of Zimmer Biomet.
Zyga's SImmetry SI Joint Fusion System clinical trial shows reduction in back pain, opioid dependency
Zyga Technology presented a publication on the first 50 patients in its EVoluSIon clinical study. Six months post surgery, the mean low back pain was recorded at 35.1 on a 100-point Visual Analog Scale, a 54 percent reduction in pain from the pre-operative mean of 76.2. Patients also showed a reduction in opioid use, 55 percent.
Virtua Memorial Hospital Burlington County receives Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery recognition
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association honored Virtua Memorial Hospital Burlington County (N.J.) with its Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery designation. The BCBSA award recognizes facilities that demonstrate expertise in delivering high quality healthcare and improve patient outcomes. In addition to the spine surgery designation award, Virtua Memorial Hospital also received designation as an Aetna Institute of Quality Orthopedic Care Facility for spine surgery.
Magnetic controlled growing rods vs. traditional growing rods for scoliosis surgery
A new study published in Spine examines the quality of life for adolescent patients who undergo scoliosis correction with magnetic controlled growing rods compared to the traditional growing rods. The economic burden and overall satisfaction scores for the magnetic controlled growing rods were significantly greater than the traditional growing rod group, according to a univariate analysis.
Orthopedic surgeon pays $5k to settle ethics violation allegation, agrees to be monitored after marrying former patient
An orthopedic surgeon paid the Iowa Board of Medicine $5,000 to settle allegations of an ethics violation after he engaged in a relationship with, and eventually married, a former patient while practicing in Fort Madison, Iowa, according to a report in The Des Moines Register. Regulators claim Joseph Darrow Jr., MD, engaged in a sexual relationship with a female patient "while or shortly after" she was his patient, and the Iowa Board of Medicine claims his behavior violated ethics rules. Read more, here.
Retired neurosurgeon gifts St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation $1M
John Moseley, MD, a retired Billings, Mont.-based St. Vincent Healthcare neurosurgeon, and his wife donated $1 million to the hospital's St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation. The donation will go toward supporting St. Vincent Healthcare's Healing Beyond Medicine Campaign, which provides spiritual care to patients and staff.