Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for April 17, 2014.
Medline acquires spine technology from Amendia
Medline recently acquired Amendia's anterior cervical fusion distraction pin business. Medline now has a comprehensive offering of surgical instruments for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedures as a result of the acquisition.
Incision closure using the zipper takes less time than the subcuticular suture
Researchers recently compared 90 female patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with two different methods of incision closure — surgical zipper or an absorbable subcuticular suture. The zipper took less time than the suture to close the incision.
Medicrea launches patient-specific spinal rod system in Europe
Medicrea launched the UNiD, the world's first patient-specific spinal osteosynthesis rod system, in Europe. French spine surgeons have already successfully implanted the rods in 43 patients to correct severe spinal deformity.
Dr. Solomon Kamson presents on outpatient spinal fusion at international meeting
Spine Institute Northwest's Solomon Kamson, MD, is speaking on minimally invasive spine surgery procedures at the World Congress of the World Federation of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery in Turkey. Dr. Kamson and his team have found an outpatient facility safe for minimally invasive fusion techniques.
Pain management devices market in the U.S. to reach nearly $2.7 billion by 2022
The growth will primarily be driven by an increased focus on pain management as a result of CMS' incentives for facilities with high patient satisfaction ratings as well as pain research initiatives from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Baxano Surgical receives FDA 510(k) clearance for MIS Pedicle Screw System
The Avance MIS Pedicle Screw System may be used as an adjunct to fusion in numerous degenerative and complex spinal pathologies.
Using preoperative narcotic makes a difference in spinal deformity surgery
Researchers examined 253 adult deformity correction patients to examine whether preoperative narcotics use had an impact on surgical outcomes and complications. There were significant postoperative improvements in the narcotic group when compared with the non-narcotics group.
AMA: Physicians Inject $1.6 Trillion Into Economy
In 2012, the more than 720,000 U.S. physicians generated $1.6 trillion in direct and indirect economic benefits, according to an economic impact report from the American Medical Association. Also, the total number of jobs directly and indirectly created by physicians (including their own) was more than 9.9 million.
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