Spine

Here four spine surgeons discuss the best decisions they made this year.

As minimally invasive spine surgery continues to gain prominence in the operating room, surgeons are adopting new technologies. These expandable devices, like Benvenue Medical's Luna 3D and Kiva Systems, create substantial footprints through minimal access points.

Erle S. Robertson, PhD, of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, researched whether viral infections could lead to neurological diseases, according to Medscape.

Santa Ana, Calif.-based World Spine Care appointed John A. Taylor, DC, its imaging consultant, according to D'Youville College.

Melville, N.Y.-based North American Partners in Anesthesia acquired ProCare Systems, according to MiBiz.

In an effort to help legitimate pain patients acquire their pain medication, the Florida Board of Pharmacy is proposing two additional training hours for Florida pharmacists, according to Click Orlando.

A new study published in The Spine Journal examines how diabetes can affect a patient's quality of life after lumbar decompression.

Stanford (Calif.) University researchers found primary care physicians are the leading opioid prescribers, according to WedMD.

Belgium-based Bone Therapeutics, a bone cell therapy company, has recruited four more patients for its ALLOB Phase IIA spinal fusion trial.

Researchers from New York-based Columbia University, New York University and the University of Pittsburgh investigated whether the "July effect" is evident in adult patients treated by neurosurgeons.