Spine

Spinal neurosurgeon Allan Levi, MD, PhD, was named as the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Endowed Chair in Neurological Surgery, according to a June 23 news release. Dr. Levi was recognized for…

A lawsuit challenging Montana Blue Cross-Blue Shield over a claim denial for spine surgery is allowed to move forward, LegalReader.com reported June 20. The judge ruled that the case could be expanded into a class-action lawsuit, the report said. Attorneys…

While wrong-site spinal surgeries are rare, the ramifications of a mistake can be devastating for patients, providers and health systems.  Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic is taking systemwide action to minimize these risks, by developing an “ironclad” process to make sure…

The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery updated its 2025 policy recommendations for bone-anchored annular closure in high-risk discectomy patients. The updated position accounts for new five-year data showing significant reductions in symptomatic reherniation, reoperation, and device-related adverse…

A medical team at Northside Hospital Gwinnett in Lawrenceville, Ga., has completed the system’s first ultra-minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery. The procedure was performed by orthopedic surgeon Vamsi Kancherla, MD, using Arthrex endoscopic spine technology, according to a June 18…

Michael Finn, MD, joined Midwest Spine & Brain Institute in Stillwater, Minn., according to a June 17 LinkedIn post.  Dr. Finn has training in orthopedic and neurological spine surgery. His expertise includes minimally invasive spine surgery, decompressions, fusions and complex…

The first patient was treated in ReGelTec’s Hydrafil FDA investigational device exemption trial, according to a June 18 news release.  The Hydrafil system is for disc augmentation and is designed to treat pain without surgery. It delivers a permanent hydrogel…

The most divisive topics in spine surgery include regenerative medicine, hybrid constructs and who performs some minimally invasive procedures. Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy…

Surgical clinics across the country are facing mounting complexity — without the tools to manage it. As more procedures shift to outpatient settings, the pressure on private and independent clinics continues to grow. Clinics are now responsible for coordinating higher-risk…

Jared Ament, MD, is at the forefront of new motion-preserving spine techniques. Dr. Ament and Amir Vokshoor, MD, debuted a 360-degree spine procedure combining Premia Spine’s Tops and Centinel Spine Prodisc-L implants. He also introduced a combination surgery with the…