Spine

Neurosurgeon Lokesh Tantuwaya, MD, 55, was sentenced five years for taking about $3.3 million in bribes for performing at the now-defunct Pacific Hospital in Long Beach, Calif.

Consolidation is rife across the healthcare industry, and it is happening among physicians, payers, corporate entities and hospital groups.

Alexander Vaccaro, MD, PhD, president of Philadelphia-based Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, shared his expertise on a variety of spine and orthopedic topics in 2022. Here are five insights to know:

Nicholas Shepard, MD, of Nashville-based Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance, completed the first augmented reality-assisted spine surgery in the state, the practice said in a Dec. 8 tweet.

Aetna has settled a class-action lawsuit regarding its artificial disc replacement coverage, and spine surgeons have their eye on the insurer's future policy shift.

Frank Cammisa, MD, completed the first augmented reality-assisted spine surgery at New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery.

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled Dec. 6 that lawsuits involving about 100 former patients of Atiq Durrani, MD, can go forward, FOX 19 reported.

The National Spine Health Foundation launched a coalition for patient education, the organization said Dec. 6.

Jake Measom, MD, performed southwest Wyoming's first spine jack procedure, The Kemmerer Gazette reported Dec. 5.

Robert Bray, MD, a surgeon at Newport Beach, Calif.-based DISC Sports & Spine Center, performed surgery to fuse neck vertebrae on former motocross star Carey Hart, according to a Dec. 1 Instagram post from the racer.