CMS will not cover new technique for lumbar spinal stenosis patients.
CMS said Medicare will not reimburse percutaneous image-guided lumbar decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis patients. Most surgical options to treat lumbar spinal stenosis are laminectomy and spinal fusion. However, percutaneous image-guided lumbar decompression, or PILD, is a newer technique for lumbar spinal stenosis patients.
Medtronic launched new procedure for lateral lumbar spine access.
Medtronic launched a new procedure to allow for lateral access to the L5-S1 disc space. Called the Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion for L5-S1, the procedure gives surgeons access to all levels of the lower lumbar spine in one patient positioning.
UCLA School of Medicine appointed Dr. Nick Shamie chief of orthopedic spine surgery.
A. Nick Shamie, MD, was appointed chief of orthopedic spine surgery at David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles.
NASS continued push for SGR repeal.
The North American Spine Society blog “Spine on the Hill” recently posted an update on the efforts to repeal and replace the sustainable growth rate formula. “While Congressional leaders suggest that SGR replacement legislation is still on the table as part of a larger budget deal, NASS is concerned that a deal will not be reached, and Congress will punt the issue until next year,” according to the post.
Stryker lost $103M in Q3 from recall costs.
Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Stryker reported net earnings of $103 million for the third quarter, which is down dramatically from $353 million during the same period last year.
The bulk of Stryker’s earnings loss falls on recall charges from the Rejuvenate and ABG II modular neck and hip stems and the Neptune Waste Management System. Recall charges cost the company $313 million this past quarter and $700 million overall.
Drs. Richard Rooney, Kathy Wang performed stem cell treatment for degenerative spine disease.
Richard Rooney, MD, and Kathy Wang, DO, of NeoSpine in the Puget Sound Area of Washington state, recently performed the state’s first stem cell procedure to treat patients with back pain from degenerative disc disease. They performed the procedure at the Microsurgical Spine Center outside of Seattle.
Dr. Laszlo Nagy appointed endowed chair in pediatrics.
Laszlo Nagy, MD, a pediatric neurosurgeon practicing in Lubbock, Texas, has been appointed as the Robert Moore, MD, Endowed Chair in Pediatrics. The chair is symbolic of the partnership between Lubbock, Texas-based Covenant Health and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in Lubbock.
Mazor Robotics’ Renaissance system reached 5k procedures.
Mazor Robotics highlighted its success with the Renaissance spine system at the North American Spine Society Annual Meeting earlier this month. Mazor reached 5,000 cases and 35,000 implantations with the Renaissance system over the past two years.
More Articles on Spine:
Dr. Thurston McMillen Joins Spine Team Texas
Spine Institute Northwest Surgery Center Earns Joint Commission Accreditation
Will SGR Repeal Happen This Year? NASS Weighs In
