Here are seven things for spine surgeons to know for Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013.
Stryker bought MAKO Surgical for $1.65B.
Stryker announced it will acquire 10-year-old orthopedic device company MAKO Surgical for approximately $1.65 billion at $30 per share.
North American Spine Society continues SGR repeal efforts.
According to the North American Spine Society's Spine on the Hill blog, the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means committee are expected to act on a sustainable growth rate bill. Differences between how the members of the House committee and Senate committee would like to see the final bill mean it could be a while before the bill is passed.
Dr. Gregory Hoffman performs double spinal disc replacement procedure in Indiana.
Gregory Hoffman, MD, of Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Ortho NorthEast, performed the nation's second double spinal disc replacement using a procedure only recently approved by the FDA at Parkview Ortho Hospital in Fort Wayne. The hospital participated in the trial that led to FDA approval of the procedure — the two-level Mobi-C cervical disc replacement. The procedure was the first of its kind to be performed in the Great Lakes region.
NASS urged CMS not to implement physician fee schedule changes.
The North American Spine Society sent a letter to CMS to comment on the Notice of Proposed Rule Making on Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule, Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule & Other Reviews to Part B published earlier this year. The proposal would lower payments on more than 200 codes. NASS urged CMS not to implement the proposed changes and continue working through the American Medical Association RBRVS Update Committee to address concerns on misvalued codes.
Dr. Terrence Crowder joined Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center.
Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center in Show Low, Ariz., announced the addition of Terrence Crowder, MD, to its medical staff. Dr. Crowder will be seeing patients at Arizona White Mountain Orthopedics in Show Low.
Study: roughened titanium alloy surface better enhances fusion than smooth.
The roughened titanium alloy surface of a spinal interbody fusion implant may enhance bone formation, implant stability and fusion compared to smooth titanium, according to a preclinical trial from Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering.
Cervical radiculopathy: does spine surgery make a difference?
A study published in Spine recently compared the outcome of anterior cervical decompression and fusion combined with a structured physiotherapy program to the same program without surgery for patients with cervical radiculopathy. The researchers found 87 percent of patients in the surgical group rated symptoms as much better during the 12-month follow-up.
More Articles on Spine:
Government Shutdown, SGR Repeal, ACA Defund: 3 Points for Spine Surgeons
Dr. Thomas Whisenhunt Joins Jackson Hospital
Rockford Spine Center New Procedure to Correct Spine Deformities
Stryker announced it will acquire 10-year-old orthopedic device company MAKO Surgical for approximately $1.65 billion at $30 per share.
North American Spine Society continues SGR repeal efforts.
According to the North American Spine Society's Spine on the Hill blog, the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means committee are expected to act on a sustainable growth rate bill. Differences between how the members of the House committee and Senate committee would like to see the final bill mean it could be a while before the bill is passed.
Dr. Gregory Hoffman performs double spinal disc replacement procedure in Indiana.
Gregory Hoffman, MD, of Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Ortho NorthEast, performed the nation's second double spinal disc replacement using a procedure only recently approved by the FDA at Parkview Ortho Hospital in Fort Wayne. The hospital participated in the trial that led to FDA approval of the procedure — the two-level Mobi-C cervical disc replacement. The procedure was the first of its kind to be performed in the Great Lakes region.
NASS urged CMS not to implement physician fee schedule changes.
The North American Spine Society sent a letter to CMS to comment on the Notice of Proposed Rule Making on Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule, Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule & Other Reviews to Part B published earlier this year. The proposal would lower payments on more than 200 codes. NASS urged CMS not to implement the proposed changes and continue working through the American Medical Association RBRVS Update Committee to address concerns on misvalued codes.
Dr. Terrence Crowder joined Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center.
Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center in Show Low, Ariz., announced the addition of Terrence Crowder, MD, to its medical staff. Dr. Crowder will be seeing patients at Arizona White Mountain Orthopedics in Show Low.
Study: roughened titanium alloy surface better enhances fusion than smooth.
The roughened titanium alloy surface of a spinal interbody fusion implant may enhance bone formation, implant stability and fusion compared to smooth titanium, according to a preclinical trial from Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering.
Cervical radiculopathy: does spine surgery make a difference?
A study published in Spine recently compared the outcome of anterior cervical decompression and fusion combined with a structured physiotherapy program to the same program without surgery for patients with cervical radiculopathy. The researchers found 87 percent of patients in the surgical group rated symptoms as much better during the 12-month follow-up.
More Articles on Spine:
Government Shutdown, SGR Repeal, ACA Defund: 3 Points for Spine Surgeons
Dr. Thomas Whisenhunt Joins Jackson Hospital
Rockford Spine Center New Procedure to Correct Spine Deformities