How often is a PMA biologic a better overall economic value than other treatment options? Practically never, right? However, a recent medical economic analysis found one particular spine fusion biologic was much more cost effective than other treatments, including “free” autograft.
Boston Scientific Corporation presentations at the recent North American Neuromodulation Society meeting reported on state-of-the-art neuromodulation devices new data on pain stimulators, specifically the company’s WaveWriter SCS System and Contour. Psychological and physiological increases in pain during the pandemic have turned countless sufferers to find narcotic pain relief. The need for non-opioid pain relief has never been greater.
Is it time to take a closer look at peptide based bone graft? Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures, which rely heavily on bone graft to deliver consistent fusion success rates, may not, according to recently published evidence, actually reach clinical success as often—certainly not “95% of the time”—as many surgeons believe.
Chronic back pain sufferers have new hope from Boston Scientific’s WaveWriter line of spinal cord stimulators. “Ultimately,” says Nilesh Patel, M.D., “the WaveWriter Alpha will usher in the next era of personalization in pain relief therapies.”
Humana to exclusively cover SI-BONE’s iFuse implant for sacroiliac joint fusion.
Cerapedics recently commercially launched i-FACTOR+ Matrix for use across Canada.
Neel Anand, M.D. performs first case using TheraCell’s novel, demineralized bone fiber screw anchor.
SINTX awarded U.S. patent for its antibacterial applications of silicon nitride ceramics.
NuVasive is developing new procedures and devices for XLIF procedures in a prone position.
Surgalign Holdings may lead with a next generation intelligent system with its purchase of Holo Surgical.
Medacta announces launch of second iteration of instruments for the M.U.S.T. pedicle screw system.
4WEB Medical launches its Stand-Alone Anterior Spine Truss System ALIF device.
Medtronic Spine is launching its first navigated titanium cage made with Titan nanoLOCK™.
Simplify Medical receives fastest FDA premarket approval for a spine device with MCRA’s help.
LifeNet Health announced the launch of the VertiGraft ACIS VG2, compatible with ACIS instrumentation.
Aesculap and True Digital Surgery collaborate on the launch of Aesculap Aeos robotic digital microscope.
FH Ortho SAS moves its ESP disc replacement spine business to Spine Innovations SAS.
Nevro Corp. to manufacture its Senza spine cord stimulation line in new Costa Rica facility by 2022.
Stratus Medical has received a pair of U.S. patents for its Nimbus RF Multitined Expandable Electrode.
Boston Scientific receives CE Mark and launches its WaveWriter Alpha product line in Europe.
Castellvi Spine’s final course focused on COVID-19’s effect on spine surgery, surgeons and revenue.
Medtronic’s Infuse withdrawal from Australia’s TGA only available via a special access program.
Orthofix has received 510(k) clearance for expansion of its FIREBIRD SI fusion system.
Some unique instruments for oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) have been launched by CoreLink.
Castellvi Spine’s third course, focused on the general topic of biomechanics/biomaterials, was remarkable.
New patent awarded for Captiva Spine’s posterior SI joint fusion system approach Quadracentric.
Silver Index, an artificial intelligence platform is better at predicting fall risk in those 65 plus.
John Eekhof joins Nexxt Spine as Director of Marketing.
Life Spine’s SImpact sacroiliac joint fusion system receives FDA 510(k) clearance.
Jeff Poole joins Discgenics as its first Chief Financial Officer.
Cerapedics has received approval from Health Canada to market its new bone graft.
“The surgeon shouldn’t have to think about his or her patients’ anesthesia,” says Joseph Barrows, M.D.
“How low can you go?” This is the question. Scoliosis correction to lowest instrumented vertebra.
IZI medical receives CE mark allowing sales in the EU and other regions for its Kiva VCF Treatment System.
Week 2 of Castellvi Spine–Advances in Spine Surgery is all about regenerative therapies, i.e., stem cells.
Nexxt Spine, LLC. has announced the release of a new version of its stand-alone cervical interbody device with an integrated turn lock function…
NuVasive has launched the Precice Plate for limb lengthening in pediatric or small stature patients.
Spine experts present at week 1 of 2020 Castellvi Spine–Advances in Spine Surgery virtual conference.
Zavation Medical recently announced the launch of its Lateral Expandable Interbody Fusion (LEIF) cage.
Companies are studying how living progenitor cells may be beneficial for COVID-19 patients, DDD and more.
Royal Biologics has acquired the Fibrinet system from Vertical Spine.
Pantheon Surgical receives patent for RFID tags to track/monitor implants and instruments.
Two pharma companies publish studies on alternatives to opioids.
Moving into Asia, Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority approval announced for 7D Surgical MvIGS system.
The RELIEF Study of spinal manipulation and mobilization techniques: leave it to doctors of chiropractic.
BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. announced New Drug Application for Vosoritide to treat dwarfism.
Skokie Hospital, Skokie, Illinois welcomes NorthShore Orthopaedic and Spine new spine center.
SeaSpine has announced the limited commercial launch of Explorer TO expandable lumbar interbody device.
Kuros Biosciences has first patient treated with Fibrin-PTH for DDD in the phase 2 STRUCTURE trial.
The HiJAK SA Expandable Cervical Stand-Alone Interbody system launched by Atlas Spine, Inc.
Centinel Spine names Varun Gandhi CFO.
Rush University Medical Center ranked as #5 in U.S. for by U.S. News & World Report.
joimax, GmbH has been granted FDA 510(k) clearance for their Intracs Navigation System.
Physicians at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia develop guidelines for elective pediatric spine surgery.
IZI Medical has announced the completion of its VCF treatment line with the introduction of the Osteo-Site .
Is posterior spinal fusion for adolescent scoliosis deformity correction being replaced by tethering?
WishBone Medical makes two acquisitions in the pedicatric spine market and adds to its board of directors.
Xtant Medical announces the launch of its Matriform® Si synthetic bone graft for spinal fusion in the U.S.
Providence, Rhode Island-based University Orthopedics welcomes Dr. Eren Kuris back.
Ernst & Young names Camber Spine CEO Daniel Pontecorvo as a 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year finalist.
The Castellvi Spine Symposium has been the venue for some of the most impactful lectures in the history of…
Cerapedics’ P-15L recent FDA approval to reduce enrollment in ASPIRE IDE study takes on Meditronic’s Infuse.
California Deformity Institute researchers studied coronal and sagittal alignment in adult spinal deformity.
Wrong-level spine surgery is relatively rare, but some statistics are unsettling.
Safe Orthopaedics has received FDA clearance for its 2nd generation SteriSpine PS pedicle screw.
What do you do if you have an idea to make a procedure faster, safer, and more effective?
PainTEQ, LLC announces a prospective study for LinQ, its SI fusion device.
FDA announces a new labeling on opioid medication advising patient about naloxone in opioid overdoses.
Zavation launches a new line of expandable lumbar plates called Z-Span for lateral or anterior use.
South Korea-based Curexo, Inc. announces CE marks for CUVIS-spine and CUVIS-joint surgical robots.
A recent study found that single-use pedicle screw kits reduce cost and time spent in the OR.
Novel alloy of mostly magnesium with 4% by weight of gallium and zinc, possible new temporary implant.
Aesculap Implant’s ActivL Artificial Disc celebrates five years of FDA approval.
Novartis’ Cosentyx has received FDA and European Medical Agency approval for more spine indications.
The FDA and the EU Regulatory Authorities have cleared icotec ag’s vertebral body devices.
NuVasive is first industry sponsor of the new American Spine Registry.
FDA sued by right wing AAPS for revoking EUA of hydroxychloroquine sulfate to treat COVID-19.
ulrich medical USA launches Momentum Posterior Spinal Fixation System in U.S.
LimiFlex paraspinous tension band as good as decompression and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.
HAPPE Spine has received U.S. patent protections for it’s PEEK material.
7D Surgical receives CE Mark for its MvIGS system for posterior spine susrgery.
NuVasive’s Precice/Precice Stryde offer limb lengthening via a magnetically controlled intermedullary nail.
Increase in COVID-19 cases may reduce elective orthopedic surgeries in Q3 and Q4.
Nexxt Spine adds two new members to it sales team.
Progress is being made in development of COVID-19 vaccine; timetable may be sooner.
Researchers at HSS are studying ways to reduce dysphagia following ACDF surgery.
New study investigates COVID-19 treatment with controversial drug hydroxychloroquine.
Life Spine’s ProLift Lateral Expandable Spacer System to begin clinical trial.
Currently, there are over 200 vaccine candidates in various stages of development. However…
COVID-19 causes orthopedic annual meetings such as NASS and EUROSPINE to cancel or go virtual.
Texas Governor Abbott reinstates ban on elective surgeries due to COVID-19 resurgence.
Blue Topaz/CompreSIve has been acquired from Osseus Fusion by Pantheon Surgical; continues distribution.
New agreement between Mighty Oak Medical and MBA Surgical brings Firefly to Spain and Portugal.
Rush University’s Frank Phillips, M.D. used xvision augmented reality for MIS surgery. He was amazed.
A new seed funding round closed for Carlsmed, Inc. to speed up launch of aprevo™.
Axis Spine’s Axis-ALIF modular interbody fusion device granted FDA 510(k) clearance.
Dexamethasone may be an effective treatment for COVID-19, but may cause a shortage for other treatments.
Dymicron welcomes Ted Bird and Eric Lange to its executive management team.
New research from Kyoto, Japan, shows some biomaterials are effective at inactivating SARS-SoV-2.
Bioventus has gotten the go-ahead from the FDA to market its bone graft, SIGNAFUSE® in a strip format.
The 6 Ts of MISS explained in Global Spine Journal special issue.
Disc herniation is a common cause of stenosis and the back and limb pain that it leads to. It occurs when disc nuclear material pushes through a tear in the annulus. Lumbar discectomy is a common procedure used to remove the disc material that is pressing on nerves or the spinal cord. But reherniation is […]
Augmented reality from Augmedics, Ltd. Used in its first spine surgery at Johns Hopkins.
Medtronic and Titan Medical make a deal in the race to become #1 in robotic-assisted surgery.
Researchers from Australia and Denmark are studying the link in back pain to depression and more.
RTI Surgical adds Bryan Cornwall and Scott Durall to its senior leadership team.
Epidemiologists will wait to attend sporting events, concerts or plays, but will seek non-urgent care.
A metal, currently used in electronics, is getting attention as a new biomaterial for spinal implants.
This is unusual. First Flexion Therapeutics raises $75 million, then $90 million.
Nexxt Spine received 510(k) clearance for new interbody devices for anterior and lateral fusion.
Experts insist that increased testing needed for successful global economies reopening during COVID-19.
Researchers have found an association between scoliosis and a chromosomal deletion, 22q11.2.
Dr. Daniels becomes permanent chief of the division of spine surgery at University Orthopedics.
SNN recently announced the launch of the updated Journey II Unicompartmental Knee (UK) System…
Surgeons often look for alternatives to autograft bone as a graft due to limited quality or quantity.
Over a 14-year period prescription rates dropped from 60% to 27.8% in children aged 10-18 seeking care.
Neo Medical SA announced May 15 that it had closed a CHF 13.2M ($13.4 million USD) financing round.
Where is the evidence-based data to support the use of vancomycin powder in spine or joint surgery?
Silicon nitride is one of the oldest spinal fusion materials with a long-term study started in the 1980s.
Ashtin Neuschaefer, CAE, assumed the role of executive director of the SRS…
i-FACTOR, a Cerapedics bone graft, worked better than allograft in non-instrumented lumbar fusion…
Pantheon Spinal broadens its portfolio with the acquisition of Incite Innovation…
OrtoWay has announced an update to the product design of its OrthoWell Distractor…
A vaccine for the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which causes the COVID-19 disease is necessary to…
Engineers at Purdue University have found a novel way to imbue metals with significantly effective bacteria killing ability—without adding a separate anti-bacterial compound (like silver) or coating. The innovative process laser etches nano-scale textures on the metal surface and, because of the geometry of the resulting surface topography, imbues implant metals with the ability to […]
The top joint reconstruction companies report sharp sales declines for the first quarter of 2020. A new report from Wells Fargo research which looks at patient visits to primary care physicians seems to indicate that stabilization and recovery of patient visits may be in the works.
Initial results of a subset of the VAST Clinical Trial found that VIVEX Biologics, Inc.’s VIA Disc provided improvements in pain and disability scores up to 12 months after injection. The study, “VAST Clinical Trial: Safely Supplementing Tissue Lost to Degenerative Disc Disease” was published ahead of print in the International Journal of Spine Surgery […]
A study published in The Spine Journal in April 2020 titled ”Obesity negatively affects cost efficiency and outcomes following adult spinal deformity surgery” investigated the intricacies of the cost difference for adult spinal deformity (ASD) correction surgery in obese and nonobese patients. The group used Medicare reimbursement claims and PearlDiver to identify patients and expenses […]
The poliovirus epidemic of the 1930-1950s was one of America’s most feared concerns. The parallels to the current coronavirus pandemic are amazing and instructive. We have been here before.
Sunnyvale, California-based Simplify Medical, Inc. has announced the completion of the Premarket Approval (PMA) application for the company’s Simplify Disc for single level procedures. The cervical artificial disc is composed of a semi-constrained ceramic core sandwiched between PEEK endplates. The endplates are coated with a porous titanium applied via plasma spray. The device is fully […]
Could the oblique lumber interbody fusion be the new “hot” MIS spine surgery? Experienced physicians who are comfortable using the procedure on nearly any patient in need of a lumbar fusion say that, in their hands, going obliquely cuts time, cost and blood loss.
The U.S. FDA recently cleared the first ever expandable, stand-alone cervical interbody that offers adjustable height and lordosis of up to 20 degrees. The Jupiter, Florida-based, Atlas Spine, Inc., received U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance for the HiJAK SA system on February 28, 2020 for up to two contiguous levels from C2-T1. The HiJAK SA adds […]
Doctors Zachary Tempel and Jeff Mullin debate how to achieve a soft landing at the top of a long fusion construct. Should surgeons use a range of materials or tethering to reduce the construct stiffness?
Doctors Laratta and Buchholz debate the pros and cons of minimally invasive anterior and open posterior-only deformity correction. Both agree that each procedure has its place and either could be considered for select patients.
