Spine

From the head of a leading orthopedic practice to a surgeon who surpassed 18,000 surgeries, here are four notable surgeons and leaders who announced their retirement in the first half of 2021:

Neurosurgeon Peter Syre, MD, is leading a new spine program at The Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center in Salida, Colo., the Ark Valley Voice reports.

From mentorship to pushing forward new technology, spine surgeons are thinking about their 2021 goals halfway through the year.

Eleven patients who received AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine in England and India have developed a rare neurological disorder that affects the brain and spinal cord, the Business Standard reports.

Justin Bundy, MD, performed the first augmented reality-assisted pediatric spine surgery in the country using Augmedics' Xvision spine system, according to The Augusta Chronicle.

As surgical technologies continue to develop in spine, many surgeons are diving deeper into minimally invasive techniques, which are increasingly being performed in the outpatient setting.

Private equity deals will have an important role in spine practices, but physicians should be mindful about the relationship that comes with investments, said David Essig, MD, of New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health.

From a revived lawsuit against a prominent commercial payer to a patent infringement case and a tainted spine product that may have gotten a patient sick, here are three spine cases that made headlines in the past month:

While CMS' decision last year to gradually phase out the inpatient-only list has been widely welcomed by the spine community, other regulatory changes related to reduced reimbursement and increased prior authorization requirements have not.

The Novartis gene therapy drug Zolgensma has led to significant improvements in motor function for presymptomatic children with spinal muscular atrophy, European Pharmaceutical Review reported June 21.