Here are seven things for spine surgeons to know for Thursday, May 2, 2013.
Dr. William Couldwell named AANS president.
At the 2013 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, William T. Couldwell, MD, PhD, FAANS, was named as the AANS 2013 to 2014 president. Dr. Couldwell currently serves as a professor and the chairman of neurosurgery at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City.
5-year clinical data on total cervical disc replacement released.
A recent study of five year data for patients who underwent cervical total disc replacement or anterior cervical discectomy and fusion show a five-fold difference in reoperation rates. After five years, patients who underwent TDR had a 97.1 percent probability of no secondary procedures, compared with 85.5 percent for ACDF patients. Also, no reoperations in TDR patients were due to implant breakage or device failure.
NASS calls for SGR reforms.
The North American Spine Society sent a letter to Fred Upton, chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, outlining the reforms NASS believes the Sustainable Growth Rate replacement draft proposal would benefit from. NASS calls for: stable, predictable updates; basing a portion of the payment on quality through Update Incentive Program; and rewarding efficient resource use.
Zimmer will distribute SpineCraft APEX spine devices.
SpineCraft moved to a new office location in Westmont, Ill., and signed a distribution agreement with Zimmer for the APEX Spine System. The recent collaboration with Zimmer will give SpineCraft access to key markets for distribution in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The distribution agreement includes the deformity, complex spine and degenerative modules.
Integra LifeSciences launched TLIF device.
Integra LifeSciences has launched a full market release of the Hollywood VI Intervertebral body fusion device system. The device is designed for transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion and uses a variable insertion feature to allow the patient's anatomy to guide device insertion.
MAST minimally invasive fusion device now available from Medtronic.
Memphis, Tenn.-based Medtronic Spine announced the launch of its MAST ALIGNEDSM procedure for multilevel spinal fusion procedures at the 2013 American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans.
1 in 5 Physician Practices Employ Care Coordinators.
More than 20 percent of physician practices employ care coordinators, according to a Physicians Practice survey. Care coordinators can be anyone whose role is to help patients access services to maintain their health, including nutrition counselors and social workers.
More Articles on Spine:
5 Ideas for Spine Practice Growth in Today's Healthcare Market From Dr. Michael Hisey
ISASS Surgeons Present Study of Fusion as Back Pain Treatment Option
Dr. Robert Harbaugh Assumes President-Elect Position at AANS
At the 2013 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, William T. Couldwell, MD, PhD, FAANS, was named as the AANS 2013 to 2014 president. Dr. Couldwell currently serves as a professor and the chairman of neurosurgery at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City.
5-year clinical data on total cervical disc replacement released.
A recent study of five year data for patients who underwent cervical total disc replacement or anterior cervical discectomy and fusion show a five-fold difference in reoperation rates. After five years, patients who underwent TDR had a 97.1 percent probability of no secondary procedures, compared with 85.5 percent for ACDF patients. Also, no reoperations in TDR patients were due to implant breakage or device failure.
NASS calls for SGR reforms.
The North American Spine Society sent a letter to Fred Upton, chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, outlining the reforms NASS believes the Sustainable Growth Rate replacement draft proposal would benefit from. NASS calls for: stable, predictable updates; basing a portion of the payment on quality through Update Incentive Program; and rewarding efficient resource use.
Zimmer will distribute SpineCraft APEX spine devices.
SpineCraft moved to a new office location in Westmont, Ill., and signed a distribution agreement with Zimmer for the APEX Spine System. The recent collaboration with Zimmer will give SpineCraft access to key markets for distribution in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The distribution agreement includes the deformity, complex spine and degenerative modules.
Integra LifeSciences launched TLIF device.
Integra LifeSciences has launched a full market release of the Hollywood VI Intervertebral body fusion device system. The device is designed for transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion and uses a variable insertion feature to allow the patient's anatomy to guide device insertion.
MAST minimally invasive fusion device now available from Medtronic.
Memphis, Tenn.-based Medtronic Spine announced the launch of its MAST ALIGNEDSM procedure for multilevel spinal fusion procedures at the 2013 American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans.
1 in 5 Physician Practices Employ Care Coordinators.
More than 20 percent of physician practices employ care coordinators, according to a Physicians Practice survey. Care coordinators can be anyone whose role is to help patients access services to maintain their health, including nutrition counselors and social workers.
More Articles on Spine:
5 Ideas for Spine Practice Growth in Today's Healthcare Market From Dr. Michael Hisey
ISASS Surgeons Present Study of Fusion as Back Pain Treatment Option
Dr. Robert Harbaugh Assumes President-Elect Position at AANS