Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for Aug. 7, 2014.
Surgery Partners-Symbion deal to include $5.82M Honolulu Spine Center
As a part of the larger $792 million acquisition of Symbion, Surgery Partners will purchase the company's share in Honolulu Spine Center. The $5.82 acquisition is subject to certificate of need approval and will need to be reviewed by the State Health Planning and Development Agency.
RAND: California's pilot orthopedic bundled payment program fails
Orthopedic surgery volume was extremely low among participating hospitals so researchers could not draw conclusions about how bundled payments impact the cost and quality of orthopedic care. The participants also faced delays in regulatory approval of their contracts and a lack of consensus about what types of cases to include in the bundle.
Depression has an impact on revision spine surgery outcomes
The patients in the study underwent revision neural decompression and instrumented fusion for adjacent segment disease, pseudarthrosis or same-level recurrent stenosis. The researchers found that an increased preoperative Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale score was significantly associated with lower two-year improvement in disability after revision surgery.
Symmetry Medical to split & spin off
Symmetry Surgical entered into a definitive agreement to sell its OEM Solutions business to Tecomet and concurrently transfer Symmetry Medical shareholders' ownership into a new company holding the Symmetry Surgical business. Symmetry Surgical will become a newly-traded public company.
Smith & Nephew's 2Q financial report: Revenue up 3%
Smith & Nephew also completed it's acquisition of ArthroCare during the second quarter. The acquisition strengthens the company's sports medicine business, which is part of the company's strategy for future growth. The second quarter financial report includes one month of trading from ArthroCare. Smith & Nephew's knee implant franchise was up 2 percent, reporting a 4 percent growth in the United States market.
Dr. Gil Tepper to launch Virtual Physician's Network Mobile App
DMH International and Miracle Mile Medical Center in Los Angeles partnered to launch the Virtual Physician's Network Mobile App Technology, a mobile app that offers a fully integrated virtual event and professional network platform combined with proprietary practice building tools focused on coordination and accountability of surgical events.
Wright Medical 2Q financial report: Losses stack up
Wright Medical Group reported second quarter losses at $24 million, or $0.48 per share. The loss is attributable to rising costs and operating expenses. The company also reported net sales up 19 percent to $72.4 million during the second quarter.
Dr. Robert Watkins to perform spine surgery on Red Sox's Shane Victorino
Dr. Watkins will perform the procedure in Los Angeles next week. He is the founder of Watkins Spine in Marina Del Rey, Calif., and has treated several other professional athletes, including Peyton Manning and Dwight Howard.
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