Surgery

Medtronic Sued by 1,000 Infuse Patients

Published: Mar 4, 2014 | Updated: Mar 4, 2014 By John Fauber, Reporter, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MedPage Today Medtronic said about 1,000 people have sued the company over its bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) product, Infuse, and that many more lawsuits may be coming. In addition, several states now are looking into sales and marketing practices involving Infuse, which […]

Stem cell knee injection shown to regenerate meniscus, reduce pain

Vangsness C. J Bone Joint Surg. 2014;doi: 10.2106/JBJS.M.00058 Full Story Results of a randomized, double-blind controlled study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery supported the use of human mesenchymal stem cell for meniscal regeneration and the control of knee pain. “There was evidence of meniscus regeneration and improvement in knee pain following treatment with allogeneic […]

Shoulder replacement improves range of motion, reduces rheumatoid arthritis pain

January 14, 2014 Full Story Shoulder replacement surgery improved range of motion and reduced pain in nearly all cases of rheumatoid arthritis, especially when patients had an intact rotator cuff, based on study results recently published in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. Using the data in the Mayo Clinic Total Joint Registry, researchers studied […]

Depressive burden is associated with a poorer surgical outcome among lumbar spinal stenosis patients

A 5-year follow-up study Maarit Pakarinen, MD The Spine Journal Available online 30 January 2014 Abstract Background context In lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) conservative treatment is usually the first choice of treatment. If conservative treatment fails, surgery is indicated. Psychological factors such as depression and anxiety are known to affect the outcome of surgery. Previous […]

Surgical Versus Nonoperative Treatment for Lumbar Disc Herniation

Spine: 01 January 2014 – Volume 39 – Issue 1 – p 3–16 doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000088 Randomized Trial Surgical Versus Nonoperative Treatment for Lumbar Disc Herniation: Eight-Year Results for the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial Lurie, Jon D. MD, MS Abstract Study Design. Concurrent prospective randomized and observational cohort studies. Objective. To assess the 8-year outcomes […]

Real Knee Surgery No Better Than Sham for Meniscal Tear

Fran Lowry December 27, 2013 In patients with a degenerative medial meniscal tear and no knee osteoarthritis, arthroscopic partial meniscectomy is no better than sham surgery, Finnish researchers report in the December 26 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. “Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy is the most common orthopaedic procedure performed in the United States,” […]

Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy versus Sham Surgery for a Degenerative Meniscal Tear

Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy versus Sham Surgery for a Degenerative Meniscal Tear Raine Sihvonen, M.D N Engl J Med 2013; 369:2515-2524 December 26, 2013 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1305189 BACKGROUND Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy is one of the most common orthopedic procedures, yet rigorous evidence of its efficacy is lacking. METHODS We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial in […]

Predicting medical complications after spine surgery: a validated model using a prospective surgical registry

Michael J. Lee, MD The Spine Journal: Available online 16 November 2013: In Press Abstract Background Context The possibility and likelihood of a post-operative medical complication after spine surgery undoubtedly play a major role in the decision making of the surgeon and patient alike. While prior study has determined Relative Risk and Odds Ratio values […]

Recovery of motor deficit accompanying sciatica—subgroup analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Gijsbert M. Overdevest, MD The Spine Journal: Available online 5 November 2013: In Press Abstract Background context In patients with sciatica due to a lumbar disc herniation, it is generally recommended to reserve surgical treatment for those who suffer from intolerable pain or those who demonstrate persistent symptoms after conservative management. Controversy exists about the […]

Comparison of spinal fusion and nonoperative treatment in patients with chronic low back pain

Long-term follow-up of three randomized controlled trials Anne F. Mannion, PhD The Spine Journal: Available online 5 November 2013: In Press Abstract Background context Chronic low back pain (cLBP) represents a major challenge to our health care systems. The relative efficacy of surgery over nonoperative treatment for the treatment of cLBP remains controversial, and little […]

How do coverage policies influence practice patterns, safety, and cost of initial lumbar fusion surgery? A population-based comparison of workers’ compensation systems

Brook I. Martin, PhD, MPH The Spine Journal: Available online 7 November 2013: In Press Abstract Background context In response to increasing use of lumbar fusion for improving back pain, despite unclear efficacy, particularly among injured workers, some insurers have developed limited coverage policies. Washington State’s workers’ compensation (WC) program requires imaging confirmation of instability […]

Adding Pounds, Then New Knees

By LAURIE TARKAN November 11, 2013 Full Story:  http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2013/11/11/adding-pounds-then-new-knees/ In his mid-forties, Charles Carroll, a letter carrier in Shrewsbury, Mass., started taking anti-inflammatory medicine for his achy knees. Despite his young age, osteoarthritis had begun to settle in. Over the next decade, the pain became so bad that at times he had difficulty walking. Eventually […]

Lumbar laminectomy—surgeon and hospital fees

Camilo A. Molina, BA, The Spine Journal Volume 13, Issue 11, November 2013, Pages 1434–1437 Abstract Background context Spine-related health-care expenditures accounted for $86 billion dollars in 2005, a 65% increase from 1997. However, when adjusting for inflation, surgeons have seen decreased reimbursement rates over the last decade. Purpose To assess contribution of surgeon fees […]

One-year outcomes of surgical versus nonsurgical treatments for discogenic back pain: a community-based prospective cohort study

Sohail K. Mirza, MD, MPH The Spine Journal Volume 13, Issue 11, November 2013, Pages 1421–1433 Abstract Background context The clinical entity “discogenic back pain” remains controversial at fundamental levels, including its pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, and optimal treatment. This is true despite availability of four randomized trials comparing the efficacy of surgical and nonsurgical treatments. […]

Trends in the Surgical Treatment of Lumbar Spine Disease in the United States

William C. Pannell The Spine Journal Available online 31 October 2013 In Press Abstract Background Context There is a lack of agreement among spine surgeons as to the best surgical treatment modality for many degenerative lumbar diseases. Though there are many studies examining trends in spinal surgery, specific studies reporting the variations in surgical treatment […]

Spinal fusions serve as case study for debate over when certain surgeries are necessary

By Peter Whoriskey and Dan Keating October 27, 2013 By some measures, Federico C. Vinas was a star surgeon. He performed three or four surgeries on a typical weekday at the Daytona Beach, Fla., hospital that employed him, and a review showed him to be nearly five times as busy as other neurosurgeons. The hospital […]

A Predictive Model of Complications after Spine Surgery

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) 2005-2010 Kimon Bekelis, M.D Abstract Background and Context There is increasing scrutiny by several regulatory bodies regarding the complications of spine surgery. Precise delineation of the risks contributing to those complications remains a topic of debate. Purpose We attempted to create a predictive model of complications in patients […]

Vertebral Artery Injuries in Cervical Spine Surgery

David J. Lunardini, MD Abstract Background Context Vertebral artery injuries (VAI) are rare but serious complications of cervical spine surgery, with the potential to cause catastrophic bleeding, permanent neurologic impairment and even death. The current literature regarding incidence of this complication is largely comprised of single surgeon or small multi-center case series. Purpose We sought […]

Vertebral Artery Injuries in Cervical Spine Surgery

David J. Lunardini, MD Abstract Background Context Vertebral artery injuries (VAI) are rare but serious complications of cervical spine surgery, with the potential to cause catastrophic bleeding, permanent neurologic impairment and even death. The current literature regarding incidence of this complication is largely comprised of single surgeon or small multi-center case series. Purpose We sought […]

Opioid Use Common After Spine Surgery

One year after surgery to relieve back pain, about of third of patients still were using narcotic painkillers, according to a study that raised new concerns about the long-term use of opioids….