Spinal Fusion News and Research

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Research roundup: Long-term care use varies dramatically by state; health spending slowdown explained

In 2012, about 58,500 paid, regulated long-term care services providers served about 8 million people in the United States. Long-term care services were provided by 4,800 adult day services centers, 12,200 home health agencies, 3,700 hospices, 15,700 nursing homes, and 22,200 assisted living and similar residential care communities. Each day in 2012, there were 273,200 participants enrolled in adult day services centers, 1,383,700 residents in nursing homes, and 713,300 residents in residential care communities; in 2011, about 4,742,500 patients received services from home health agencies, and 1,244,500 patients received services from hospices. Provider sectors differed in ownership, and average size and supply varied by region (Harris-Kojetin et al., 12/12).

16 Dec 2013

Research paper provides first evidence-based recommendations for using PRP in orthopaedic care

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has grabbed headlines in recent years for its role in helping some of sports' biggest stars return to play following injury -including golfer Tiger Woods, Super Bowl winner Hines Ward and NBA legend Kobe Bryant.

12 Dec 2013

Questions about medical necessity for some surgeries, screenings

The Washington Post looks at the dramatic increase in spinal fusion surgeries and whether all are necessary, while Kaiser Health News examines screenings for stroke and heart disease, some of which are not recommended for healthy people.

29 Oct 2013

Amedica signs distribution agreement with K2M

Amedica Corporation, a biomaterial company, announced today that it has entered into a distribution agreement with K2M that will provide surgeons and hospitals in Europe with access to Amedica's Silicon Nitride interbody spinal fusion devices.

24 Oct 2013

BMP linked to increased risk of benign tumors, not cancers

Patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery with bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) appear to be at increased risk of benign tumors—but not cancers, reports a study in the September issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

7 Sep 2013

Indicators of poor preoperative health predict risk of major medical complications

For older adults undergoing surgery for spinal stenosis, some simple indicators of poor preoperative health predict a high risk of major medical complications, reports a study in the September 1 issue of Spine. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

4 Sep 2013

Professional athletes can return to competition after vertebral fusion surgery

Most professional athletes are able to return to competition within a year after vertebral fusion surgery on the upper (cervical) spine, reports a study in the July issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

20 Jul 2013

OHSU analysis finds previous studies have overstated effectiveness of bone growth product used in spinal surgeries

An analysis by the Evidence-based Practice Center at Oregon Health & Science University has found that previously published clinical trial studies about a controversial bone growth product used in spinal surgeries overstated the product's effectiveness.

19 Jun 2013

Study reports that less-invasive option for spinal stenosis poses 'trade-off' in outcomes

Interspinous spacer implantation-a less-invasive alternative surgical option for spinal stenosis-has a lower complication rate than spinal fusion, reports a study in the May 1 issue of Spine The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

8 May 2013

RBCs stored longer than 3 weeks begin to lose the capacity to deliver oxygen-rich cells to tissue

A small study from Johns Hopkins adds to the growing body of evidence that red blood cells stored longer than three weeks begin to lose the capacity to deliver oxygen-rich cells where they may be most needed.

4 Mar 2013

New implantable sensor holds promise for advancing personalized medicine

Rebecca Wachs has invented a new implantable sensor with the ability to wirelessly transmit data from the site of a knee replacement, spinal fusion, or other orthopedic surgery.

28 Feb 2013

Study looks at natural history of cervical spondylolisthesis

Follow-up data on patients with degenerative disease of the upper (cervical) spinal vertebrae show little or no evidence of worsening degeneration over time, according to a study in the February 15 issue of Spine.

21 Feb 2013

FDA approves K7 LLC's K7C Cervical Spacer for use as IBF device

K7 LLC's K7C Cervical Spacer, a spinal implant device using Evonik's VESTAKEEP PEEK (polyetheretherketone), has received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) 510(k) approval for use as an Intervertebral Body Fusion (IBF) device.

4 Feb 2013

Study finds negligible effect on periprocedural outcomes among patients after spine surgery

The "July effect"-the notion that the influx of new residents and fellows at teaching hospitals in July of each year adversely affects patient care and outcomes-was examined in a very large data set of hospitalizations for patients undergoing spine surgery. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic and the University of Virginia Health System found a negligible effect on periprocedural outcomes among patients treated by spine surgery.

30 Jan 2013

Cervical disc replacement: an interview with Joe Ross, VP of U.S. Marketing at LDR

Cervical disc replacement is a surgical procedure that involves removing a damaged or degenerated cervical disc and replacing it with an artificial disc device.

10 Dec 2012

DSM extends license to supply CarboSil® TSPCU for use in AxioMed Spine Corporation’s Freedom® Spinal Discs

DSM, a global leader in biomedical materials sciences, and AxioMed Spine Corporation, an innovator in the field of spinal implant devices, today announced that they have revised and extended an existing licensing and supply agreement. DSM will supply its proprietary CarboSil®Thermoplastic Silicone-Polycarbonate-urethane material for use in AxioMed’s Freedom® Lumbar and Freedom® Cervical Discs.

24 Oct 2012

Aesculap to launch ArcadiusXP L spinal system during NASS meeting

On October 24, 2012, Aesculap Implant Systems will debut the ArcadiusXP L Stand alone Interbody Device for ALIF procedures during the North American Spine Society (NASS) Annual Meeting being held in Dallas, Texas.

23 Oct 2012

Nearly 20% of people develop PTSD symptoms after low back fusion surgery

Nearly 20 percent of people who underwent low back fusion surgery developed post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms associated with that surgery, according to a recent Oregon Health & Science University study published in the journal Spine.

29 Sep 2012

Pediatric pain: An interview with Lori Kozlowski

The pain experienced by the infants, children and adolescents in our study was the result of a broad range of medical and surgical conditions.

11 Sep 2012

FDA clearance - scoliosis - DePuy synthes spine

DePuy Synthes Spine announced it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use of its EXPEDIUM®, VIPER®, and VIPER®2 Spine Systems on patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), an abnormal curvature of the spine that typically affects children between the ages of 10 and 18.(1) This expands the scoliosis indication for the pedicle screw systems, which now are indicated for both adolescents and adults.

2 Aug 2012