Spine

Astura Medical earned FDA 510(k) clearance for the Masada Sacral-Alar-Iliac system, the medtech company said in a Nov. 3 LinkedIn post. The system is designed for sacroiliac joint fixation and fusion and is part of the Masada modular posterior fixation…

Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas performed the world’s first spine surgery using a multi-arm, navigation-based robotic system, according to a Nov. 3 Sunny 106.5 report.  The procedure was completed by spine surgeon Kornelis Poelstra, MD, PhD,…

As CMS and private insurance hurdles persist, some spine and orthopedic surgeons see a solution in cash pay options. This model has already been successful despite early obstacles, for surgeons like Ara Deukmedjian, MD.  “Initially when I opted out, there…

29 hospitals have earned Healthgrades’ Specialty Excellence Awards for Spine Surgery three years in a row. Here are the best hospitals in the U.S. for spine surgery three years in a row in alphabetical order: 1. Abbott Northwestern Hospital (Minneapolis)2.…

Here are six spine surgeons who joined new practices in October: Note: This is not an exhaustive list. 1. Alvin Chan, MD; Casey Slattery, MD, and Kushagra Verma, MD, joined Irvine, Calif.-based Hoag Orthopedic Institute. 2. AdventHealth Medical Group added…

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…