Back and spine surgeries are among the most common operations in the state of Florida, but they are also among the most unnecessary, according to a Dec. 23 report from the Sun Sentinel.

Kingsley Chin, MD, had money laundering charges against him dismissed by a Massachusetts federal judge, according to a Dec. 20 news release.

Ali Baaj, MD, is joining Northwestern Medicine in Chicago in 2025, he said in a Dec. 20 LinkedIn post.

In early December, New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health became the first system in New York state to offer the Teligen spine surgical system, in a procedure led by Daniel Sciubba, MD, senior vice president of neurosurgery at Northwell and co-executive director of the Northwell Spine Institute based in New Hyde Park, N.Y. 

Concord, N.C.-based Atrium Health Cabarrus has earned the Gold Seal of Approval award from the Joint Commission's Spine Surgery Center of Excellence for a second consecutive year. 

Five spine surgeons reflect on patient cases that left a significant impression on them in 2024.

DISC Surgery Center at Thousand Oaks (Calif.) has added 10 spine and orthopedic surgeons to its medical team. 

Garrick Cason, MD, performed the first case with Camber Spine's Spira-A implant in the U.S., according to a Dec. 18 news release shared with Becker's.

Meeker, Colo.-based Pioneers Medical Center now offers the TOPS system for lumbar spine surgery.

More than 60 spine surgeons moved to new practices or added to their titles in 2024:

Sohrab Gollogly, MD, a surgeon and one of the founders of Monterey (Calif.) Spine and Joint, operated on UFC fighter Cub Swanson, helping him return to fighting pain free, according to a Dec. 14 report from NBC affiliate KSBW. 

Neurosurgeon John Eickman, MD, has joined Sanford Health Grand Forks (N.D.), according to a Dec. 14 report from the Grand Forks Herald.

WWE fighter Cody Rhodes has been hospitalized following a cervical spine injury, according to a Dec. 16 report from FightFans.

Similar to 2024, next year will pose challenges to the spine industry, especially when it comes to payer relations. There are also new opportunities for the specialty to develop new technologies.

While each geographic market has its own unique needs, there are some key considerations spine surgeons should be mindful of when thinking about expanding their footprint.

Outpatient spine surgery will keep growing as techniques become more minimally invasive, and centers can take more complex cases.

Here are 10 hospitals and health systems seeking spine and orthopedic surgeons.

New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health has become the first system in New York state to offer the Teligen spine surgical system. 

From cost-effectiveness of procedures to disc replacement outcomes, researchers published multiple findings about spine surgery in 2024.

Here are eight major athletes who have suffered spine injuries during their 2024 sports season: