Spine

The New Jersey State Spine Society has called an emergency meeting for Feb. 15 to address major state legislative issues to reduce reimbursement rates for spine procedures and gather support for advocacy efforts, according to an ISASS news release.

According to a study published in Spine, a greater volume of bone cement injected when performing vertebroplasty was positively correlated with better deformity correction outcomes, although it also increased the risk of adjacent level fracture.

Fourteen hospitals have agreed to pay more than $12 million combined to settle federal allegations that they defrauded Medicare by overbilling for kyphoplasty procedures, according to a news release from the Department of Justice.

Chair of the Coding and Reimbursement Task Force for the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery Morgan Lorio, MD, released a letter urging ISASS members to support action regarding reimbursement for lumbar fusions.

Victor Hsu, MD, is the first surgeon to use the recently FDA approved, PASS MIS System from MEDICREA, a manufacturer of orthopedic implants, according to a company news release.

Seven spine surgeons discuss their choice to enter into private practice or hospital employment.

Researchers at the Rothman Institute and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, found epidural steroid injections do not improve health or avoid surgery in the long term for patients with back pain, according to a Thomas Jefferson University news release.

Here are 20 spine and neurosurgeons currently in practice who invented spinal devices, techniques and systems.

Stephen Hochschuler, MD, co-founder of Texas Back Institute and past president of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, discusses eight changes for a more positive spine and healthcare environment in the future.

Marie Walker, MD, was invited to present at the Multidisciplinary Mayo Spine Conference this past January, according to a Rockford Spine Center news release (pdf).