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News and Research for Spine Professionals

8 Spine Technology and News Highlights July 2018

SpineUniverse highlights a blend of eight news briefs covering technology, clinical research, corporate updates, spine devices, surgical opinion, and more from July 2018.

Career Advancement Advice for Spine Professionals

As a spine professional, you have a much different experience in the job market compared to those in the business world. The focus isn’t merely on your technical skills.

Half of Patients Expect Physicians, Nurses to Protect Them Against Hospital Shootings

In an active hospital shooting situation, under what circumstances do you lock down doors and stay versus run and take patients with you?

Staff and Office Factors May Negatively Affect Online Ratings for Spine Surgeons

Should spine surgeons ask patients if there were difficulties with the office appointment or surgical scheduling, and encourage patients to take an active role in billing prior to undergoing a surgical procedure in an attempt to provide more transparency for the patient?

Spine Technology News Highlights June 2018

Spine technology news highlights for June 18 include a novel investigational PEEK-on-ceramic cervical artificial disc, registration deadline and information about academic pain medicine programs and the NASS spine registry.

Optimal End Level for Long-Segment Cervical Fusion to the Thoracic Spine?

Extending posterior cervical fusions for degenerative spine conditions into the thoracic spine is associated with less risk for pseudarthrosis but significantly greater blood loss, tendency toward greater operating room time and length of hospital stay.

Does Inflammatory Bowel Disease Complicate Lumbar Fusion Outcomes?

Inflammatory bowel disease is becoming increasingly more common among patients undergoing lumbar fusion, according to a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of a nationwide database.

Pseudarthrosis Found in Half of Patients With PEEK Implants for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

Use of PEEK cages for ACDF was linked to a 5-fold increased incidence of pseudarthrosis compared with use of allograft materials, and a nearly 2-fold increase in the rate of subsequent revision surgery for pseudarthrosis, according to findings from a retrospective study presented at the 2018 AANS/CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves Annual Meeting.

Porous PEEK May Have Better Impact Durability Over Titanium-Coated Device

Simulated cervical impaction testing showed fundamental differences in the response of porous versus titanium-coated PEEK devices, according to a recent study. Peer commentary by Khoi Than, MD.

What Are the “Critical Elements” of Spine Surgeries?

Results of a consensus survey of spine surgeons “may be hard to digest,” stated lead author, Joseph Laratta, MD. Radiographic localization, decompression, instrumentation, and fusion were defined as critical elements for common spine procedures evaluated in a consensus survey of spine surgeons. Peer commentary by Lali Sekhon, MD.

New Guidelines and App for Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Therapy During Interventional Spine and Pain Procedures

Guidelines and app to clinical decision-making on when to stop antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies in patients undergoing interventional spine and pain procedures to avoid serious bleeding, and when to restart the agents after the procedures.

Porous PEEK Fusion Device Shows High Strength and Facilitates Bone Ingrowth

J. Kenneth Burkus, MD noted that a complication of standard PEEK-based implants relates to poor integration with the surrounding bone, producing a “PEEK-halo” effect.

Quantitative MRI Shows High Sensitivity in Detecting Progression in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy

Study compares methods to monitor for myelopathic progression in cases of degenerative cervical myelopathy, and provides a decision-making algorithm.

Overcoming Barriers to Non-surgical Treatment for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Many patients with lumbar spinal stenosis are willing to comply with non-surgical treatment recommendations, including exercise, but face various barriers to treatment compliance, according to a qualitative study.

Ossification Shape May Predict Outcomes of Laminoplasty in the Treatment of Cervical Myelopathy

Read on to learn about an important predictor of poor surgical outcomes following laminoplasty.

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