Spine

Alejandro Lopez, DO, performed New Jersey’s first fully endoscopic laminectomy using Amplify Surgical’s dualPortal technology, according to an Oct. 28 news release from Camden, N.J.-based Cooper University Health Care. The milestone procedure was done in collaboration with Inspira Neuroscience. With…

Neurosurgeon Chris Talbot, DO, successfully completed the first endoscopic spine surgery at AdventHealth Avista in Louisville, Colo. Dr. Talbot utilized a 4K ultra high-definition endoscopic system to treat compressed nerves or herniated discs, according to an Oct. 29 news release…

Florida has 20 hospitals included on Healthgrades’ Specialty Excellence Awards for Spine Surgery list, the most of any state. The 2026 Specialty Excellence Awards were published Oct. 28.  The Spine Surgery Excellence Award recognizes hospitals that deliver superior patient outcomes…

Prior authorization can be a pain point for spine surgeons getting reimbursement approved by CMS and insurers, but artificial intelligence holds potential for improving that process for providers, Brian Gantwerker, MD, said. Dr. Gantwerker, of the Craniospinal Center of Los…

Rhea Medical Center in Dayton, Tenn., opened its Spine Motion Institute, Chattanoogan.com reported Oct. 29. Spine surgeon Scott Hodges, DO, is overseeing the center. His practice includes disc replacement, minimally invasive spine surgery and facet joint replacement. The new center…

A surge of private equity deals in the spine and orthopedic space during the last few years have yet to see solid payoff, some surgeons say. Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around…

Recent shifts in telehealth policy have forced some spine surgeons to adapt, Reid Hoshide, MD, said. Dr. Hoshide, of the Neurosurgical Institute of Hawaii in Honolulu, shared his strategy with Becker’s. Question: How are changes to telehealth access affecting your…

PainTEQ, an interventional spine care company, added Robert Kline to its board of directors, according to an Oct. 28 news release. Mr. Kline has 25 years of experience including founder of Medivance, co-founder of ViroCyt and CEO of Boulder Surgical.…

Elevance Health shared plans to potentially penalize facilities that use care providers who aren’t in network with Anthem, a move that worries spine surgeons. The policy, which would go into effect Jan. 1, focuses on 11 states and says facilities…

Centinel Spine’s revenue was more than $32 million during the third quarter, a 42% year-over-year increase, according to financial results posted Oct. 28. Five things to know: 1. Centinel Spine also saw record global revenue for its cervical total disc…