Spine

A study published in Spine examines the incidence of venous thromboembolic complications and pulmonary embolism in children undergoing spinal fusion surgery.

Researchers examined subject-based three-dimensional CT lumbar models for asymptomatic subjects to measure trends in foraminal height for the healthy spine and published their results in Spine.

Here are 20 spine-focused studies to know published within the past month.

  Paul M. Brisson, MD, has been named to The Leading Physicians of the World publication of the International Association of HealthCare Professionals, according to a MotoeMag report.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine has been awarded $6 million by CMS' Innovation Center for its Better Back Care program.

  A recent study published in The Spine Journal examines and describes national trends in revision rates, complications and readmission for patients undergoing single and multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedures.

  Healthcare is changing at a rapid pace and healthcare reform pushes consolidation. However, hospital employment isn't the only option for independent spine surgeons struggling to get by.

Medicare currently doesn't reimburse for spine surgery in ambulatory surgery centers, despite evidence appropriately-selected patients can have good outcomes. Three spine surgeons discuss if Medicare will begin reimbursing spine surgeries at ASCs and why it should.

A new study of pedicle screw placement with Mazor Robotics' robotic guidance system reported improved accuracy and reduced exposure to radiation for surgeons.

A study published in the Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques examined the risk factors for radiographic L5-S1 disc height reduction after lumbar posterolateral floating fusion surgery.