Spine
In the realm of spinal fusion surgery, the quest for faster, safer, and more reliable bone formation has led to…
Spine surgery continues to evolve as surgeons expand minimally invasive and motion-preserving techniques, adopt new technologies and develop approaches to treating complex spinal conditions. The following 15 spine surgeons are advancing the specialty through clinical innovation, research, education and leadership.…
The evidence base for spinal fusion has not collapsed, but the assumptions around it have. Motion-preserving procedures have matured enough that surgeons now have real alternatives for patients who once would have gone straight to fusion. Artificial disc replacement, cervical…
A collapsed $34 billion orthopedic merger, a nearly $24 million executive payout and a lowered sales forecast were among the developments reshaping spine and orthopedic device companies in October. The month also brought new legal scrutiny, a major surgical robotics…
Robotics, AI and advanced implants are reshaping spine and orthopedic surgery, but some surgeons are questioning whether the latest technologies always deliver better care. From overriding robotic recommendations to challenging unnecessary implants and costly surgical platforms, physicians are raising concerns…
Neurosurgery continues to evolve as surgeons advance minimally invasive techniques, adopt new technologies and develop treatments for increasingly complex brain and spine conditions. The following 15 neurosurgeons are advancing the specialty through clinical innovation, research, education and leadership. Editor’s note:…
From first-in-the-nation procedures to new technology debuts, here are 19 milestones in spine and orthopedic surgery, as reported by Becker’s since July 1. Editor’s note: This list is not exhaustive.
Surgeons, not hospitals, drive most of the cost variation in single-level lumbar fusion: Surgeon-level cost variation ran 30 times greater than hospital-level variation, according to research published Oct. 30 in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine. Researchers used a detailed costing…
Minimally invasive spine surgery is expanding, but surgeons are drawing a sharper distinction between smaller incisions and better outcomes. While many see clear benefits for routine decompressions and disc herniations, questions remain about its value in complex fusions, deformity cases…
Max Zarling, MD, a neurosurgeon and former chief of staff at St. Paul, Minn.-based United Hospital, died Oct. 23 at his home in Edina, Minn., according to an obituary published in The Minnesota Star Tribune. He was 94. Dr. Zarling…
Unnecessary surgery claims, device liability, kickback prosecutions and executive disputes have all shaped the year for spine and orthopedic providers and manufacturers. Here are 10 cases that occurred during 2026, as reported by Becker’s: Unnecessary surgery and fraud Kickbacks and…