Spine

Moving spine surgery to the ASC brings a wealth of advantages including cost savings, but there are some prominent challenges to migration. Five spine surgeons discuss the roadblocks. Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine…

Christopher Michel, MD, joined The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics’ Parkway Division in Hagerstown, Md. Dr. Michel is a spine surgeon with training in minimally invasive and complex spine care, according to an Oct. 29 news release. He earned his medical…

Augurex’s Spinestat diagnostic test earned the FDA’s breakthrough device designation. Spinestate is a 14-3-3eta autoantibody multiplex immunoassay test for diagnosing axial spondyloarthritis, according to an Oct. 28 news release. It’s designed to address an unmet need in the early and…

Spine surgeon Tenner Guillaume, MD, of St. Paul, Minn.-based Gillette Children’s Hospital, was appointed to SMAIO’s scientific advisory board, according to a Nov. 3 news release. Dr. Guillaume specializes in spinal deformities in children, and he joined the hospital in…

Orthofix saw net sales of $205.6 million in the third quarter, a 5% increase year over year, according to financial results posted Nov. 4. Six things to know: 1. Net sales of $205.6 million include revenue from the discontinued M6…

Spinal neurosurgeon Christopher Neumann, MD, introduced two spine procedures to Lawton, Oklahoma.-based Comanche County Memorial Hospital, KSWO reported Nov. 3. The hospital added kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive procedure, and the Intracept procedure. Kyphoplasty addresses compression fractures, and Intracept is a…

Astura Medical earned FDA 510(k) clearance for the Masada Sacral-Alar-Iliac system, the medtech company said in a Nov. 3 LinkedIn post. The system is designed for sacroiliac joint fixation and fusion and is part of the Masada modular posterior fixation…

Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas performed the world’s first spine surgery using a multi-arm, navigation-based robotic system, according to a Nov. 3 Sunny 106.5 report.  The procedure was completed by spine surgeon Kornelis Poelstra, MD, PhD,…

As CMS and private insurance hurdles persist, some spine and orthopedic surgeons see a solution in cash pay options. This model has already been successful despite early obstacles, for surgeons like Ara Deukmedjian, MD.  “Initially when I opted out, there…

29 hospitals have earned Healthgrades’ Specialty Excellence Awards for Spine Surgery three years in a row. Here are the best hospitals in the U.S. for spine surgery three years in a row in alphabetical order: 1. Abbott Northwestern Hospital (Minneapolis)2.…