Spine

A variety of drugs and drug-biologics have been making headlines in the spine field in the past year. Here are seven products that have received regulatory approval or are undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of spinal conditions:

Neurosurgeon Nikolay Martirosyan, MD, has performed a minimally invasive spine surgery that reduces time in the operating room by one hour, NBC affiliate KWWL reported  Sept. 24.

The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a judgment that would have allowed IU Health to dodge "vicarious liability" for an independent anesthesiologist's work in a near-fatal spine surgery, according to court documents filed Sept. 28.

Ernest Braxton, MD, former chief of neurosurgery at San Antonio Military Medical Center, is one of a handful of surgeons offering awake spinal fusions in the U.S., The Aspen Times reports.

AbbVie's elezanumab on Sept. 29 received Fast Track designation for the treatment of patients with spinal cord injury.

The addition of Sonia Eden, MD, could go a long way toward re-establishing Detroit Medical Center's neurosurgery residency program.

Florida Trend Magazine has named Dror Paley, MD, to its Florida 500 list, recognizing the spine surgeon for his business expertise, South Florida Hospital News reported Sept. 22.

Brian Hoh, MD, has been named president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, a professional society with more than 9,800 members, according to The Gainesville Sun.

Orthopedic surgeon Mark Erickson, MD, of Children's Hospital Colorado completed his 100th robotic-assisted pediatric spine surgery, according to CBS Denver.

Insurance companies and the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic are some of the issues at the forefront of spine surgeons' minds. Here, six surgeons discuss the biggest obstacles to the specialty going forward.