News and Research for Spine Professionals

SpineUniverse Technology Highlights NeuroSphere™ myPath™, G-scan Brio Dedicated MRI and Up-LIFT Clinical Trial

Abbott's digital patient-connected pain care, Esaote's open/tilting weight-bearing MRI, and ONWARD's trial to treat SCI-related upper extremity deficits.

Should You Recommend Platelet-Rich Plasma for Discogenic Pain?

The potential for PRP to treat various musculoskeletal pathologies is becoming more clear, but is it right for spine conditions? Our expert weighs in.

Reduce Your Risk of COVID-19 During Spine Surgery

Read the latest guidelines from medical societies, and learn how one institution has put safety protocols into practice.

Are Robots for Spine Surgery Worth the Cost?

Does your spine practice need a robot? Is it even feasible? Learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of robotic-assisted spine surgery, and how to evaluate and choose a robot model.

Should You Outsource Your 3D Printing?

3D printing can be a boon for spine specialists, but both cost and investment in time to learn the technology and print to exacting standards can be prohibitive. Here’s how spine specialists can outsource their 3D printing needs.

SpineUniverse Technology Highlights from Abbott Neuromodulation, Integra LifeSciences and Integrity Implants

Experts discuss advances in SCS therapy for CLBP, biomechanics of a novel multiplanar expandable interbody cage and a spinal sealant system for adjunctive suture dural repair.

Bone Grafts in Spinal Fusions: What Really Matters

The search for the perfect spinal fusion bone graft material goes on, but the good news is you can achieve positive patient outcomes with any of the common choices. Hear what experts at NASS 2020 had to say.

Relievant Medsystems’ Intracept® Procedure Achieves New Milestones

Recent long-term study outcomes confirm effectiveness of the Intracept procedure to treat chronic vertebrogenic LBP.

3D Printing Advances Spine Surgery Planning and Training

Learn how preeminent spine specialists use 3D printing to visualize complex patient anatomy and bring down medical education costs.

NASS 2020: Research Highlights from Three Top Studies

Pedicle screws, total disc replacement and more: Here are three of the top abstracts presented at the North American Spine Society conference 2020.

Search Rankings for Spine Specialists

Search engine optimization for the medical industry is complicated enough. A 2020 study suggests winning the search engine wars is even less intuitive than you may expect. Learn SEO best practices for spine specialists.

Is Your Spine Practice Principle-Based?

A principle-based spine surgeon chooses the best technique for each patient instead of the surgery technique at which they’re best, says Ali A. Baaj, MD.

2020 NASS Annual Meeting: Question Your Biases, Says NASS President

William J. Sullivan, MD, kicked off the 2020 NASS annual meeting by exhorting his colleagues to challenge their preconceived judgements.

NASS Annual Meeting: Wang Recognized for Advocacy

NASS past president Jeffrey C. Wang, MD, is recognized for his advocacy work at the organization’s annual meeting. Hear from Dr. Wang what advocacy—and his award—means to him.

New Study Tests Reliability of Lin/Lenke Classification System for Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis

A new study from the creators of the Lin/Lenke adolescent scoliosis classification system suggests it's applicable for adults too, which may drive future treatment plans for adult scoliosis.

Can Pedicle Screw Guards Reduce Surgical Site Infections?

Surgical hardware contamination is always a risk in spine surgery, but Aakash Agarwal, PhD believes he has a solution. Learn more.

Become an IME and Diversify Your Income Stream

Spine specialists can gain an extra income stream by becoming an independent medical examiner (IME) if their case volume has dropped due to COVID lockdowns.

SpineUniverse Technology Highlights from Bioventus, Mainstay Medical and Spinal Balance

Learn about the latest surgical tech for spine specialists, including bioactive bone grafts, a new neurostimulator and sterile screws.

Surgical Planning Techniques for Better Outcomes

Advances in surgical planning techniques could improve outcomes in spine operations. Ehsan Jazini, MD, a spine surgeon at Virginia Spine Institute, shares several smart presurgical strategies.

MRI-Based Tool Assesses Bone Quality Prior to Spine Surgery

Bone quality is a predictor of spine surgery outcomes, but few surgeons use DEXA scans to assess bone quality before operating. This MRI-based tool may make detecting osteoporosis and osteopenia easier.

How Can Virtual Reality in Medicine Enhance the Patient Experience?

Virtual reality, already established in brain surgery, is starting to prove its value as a patient-education tool in the spine setting. Here’s how VR in medicine can enhance the patient experience.

Heads Up! Docs Perform First Augmented Reality-Guided Spinal Fusion

Surgeons used augmented reality, which one likened to the heads-up display of a fighter pilot, for the first time in the operating room to perform a spinal fusion. The groundbreaking surgery took place at The Johns Hopkins Hospital on June 8, 2020.

9 Spine Technology and News Highlights August 2018

SpineUniverse highlights a blend of 9 news briefs covering spine industry corporate news, clinical research, 3D-printing advances and devices, and technical updates from August 2018.

SpineUniverse Highlight: PrecisionOS Virtual Reality Technology is Changing the Future of Surgical Training

Dr. Danny Goel, CEO of PrecisionOS discussed how their unique VR technology is improving surgical training by providing a virtual immersive and lifelike OR experience.

SpineUniverse Technology Highlight: Spinal Implant Company Nexxt Spine, LLC

James Abraham, Nexxt Spine’s COO, talks about the company's 10-year history, innovative spinal implant designs and inhouse manufacturing capabilities.

Docs Must Take the Lead in Prioritizing Surgery

As societies around the world continue to contend with social distancing and the COVID-19 pandemic, spine specialists will have to wrangle with prioritizing canceled surgeries. Dr. Michael Fehlings is studying the most efficient ways to do so.

Virtual Conference Brings Spine Specialist Community Together

The Virtual Global Spine Conference allows specialists around the world to gather and learn on Zoom for free in response to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Ketamine and Other Promising Alternatives to Opioids

Ketamine and other NMDA antagonists can play an important role in pain management and as an alternative to opioids, says our expert.

Chronic Opioid Use Before Spine Surgery Linked to Longer Opioid Use After Surgery

Chronic opioid use before a laminectomy is linked to longer opioid use and longer hospital stays after a laminectomy. But do the data tell the whole story?

Telemedicine for Spine Care During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Telemedicine use among spine specialists is rapidly rising due to the coronavirus pandemic. Learn how one large practice is implementing telemedicine and get tips on how to do it for your practice.

Do You Screen Your Surgical Patients for Psychological Comorbidities?

Mental health comorbidities are a predictor of readmission and revision after spine surgery, but few surgeons perform psychological screenings for prospective patients.

Implant-Related Management of Surgical Site Infections After Spine Surgery

Clinical pearls from the author’s review of postoperative surgical site infections; infection rate variability, readmission cost, implant loosening and aseptic revision spine surgery.

Achieving Cognitive Dominance in Spine Surgery

Neurosurgeon Mark McLaughlin, MD, spoke with SpineUniverse about how 28 years of experience led to his book detailing strategies to master fear, stress, anxiety, and dominate burnout.

Black Patients at High Risk of Poor Outcomes From Lumbar Spinal Fusion

It’s hoped this study raises awareness in the spine community about disparities in care and starts a conversation that includes implicit bias training to identify and combat disparities.

Impact of Preoperative Fibrinogen Testing on Blood Loss in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery

During large procedures, as bleeding continues, fibrinogen is one of the first factors consumed, and when depleted, excessive bleeding may occur.

Best Practice Guidelines for Chiropractic Care of Neck Pain and Whiplash Disorders

Recommendations for neck pain and whiplash disorders help close knowledge gaps on modalities lacking scientific. Peer commentary addresses chiropractic management of myelopathy from cervical stenosis and radiculopathy.

Neural Progenitor Cell Transplantation in Spinal Cord Injury

Michael G. Fehlings, MD, explains this research aimed to optimize neural progenitor cell transplantation in SCI and translational medicine as a driver for new spinal cord injury interventions.

How Can We Fix the US Health Care Problem?

Lali Sekhon, MD, delineates the scope of the health care problem, identifies key players, tactics used to inflate health care costs, and potential solutions.

Preventing Glucocorticoid-Induced Vertebral Fractures

Case study reviews the mechanisms behind glucocorticoid-induced vertebral fractures as well as current recommendations for prevention and treatment.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Bracing Failure Risk Factors

Study data on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis risk factors for brace treatment failure and curve progression can assist in patient counseling and treatment decision-making.

Modified SHILLA Technique for Scoliosis Remodulates the Apex Vertebra

Study findings of a modified SHILLA procedure to treat scoliosis demonstrated that active remodulation of the apex vertebra may reduce potential for loss of correction over time.

Scoliosis Specific Exercise and Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

In adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, the goal of scoliosis specific exercise (SSE) treatment is prevention or reduction of curve progression, respiratory dysfunction, spinal pain, and improved appearance through postural correction.

Spine Fellowships Should Include Boot Camps and Simulations in Training

Surgical specialty training boot camps were identified as one of the best strategies to maximize opportunities in spine surgery fellowships.

Minimally Invasive Decompression Lowers Reoperation Rates

The study questions one of the long-held beliefs of many spine surgeons: When patients need surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis, they will benefit most of a decompression and fusion procedure.

6 Spine Societies Highlighted during Spine Summit 2015: AOSpine, ACSR, CSRS, ISASS, SRS, SMISS

Prestigious leaders in the spine field summarized the history of the six international spine societies represented at One Spine, One World.

Risks Associated with Opioids after Spine Surgery

David W. Polly, Jr., MD presented Opioid-related Adverse Events with Lumbar Spine Surgery: Is the Risk Real? during the 31st Annual Meeting of the Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves—Spine Summit 2015.

Bracing Plus Exercise to Promote Bone Mineral Growth Is Key to Managing Scoliosis in Adolescents

While brace treatment has been shown to slow down curve progression in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, physical activity—particularly in the form of weight-bearing activities—should also be prescribed to prevent bone mineral loss and promote bone mineral gain.