7 Things for Spine Surgeons to Know for Thursday

Here are seven things for spine surgeons to know for Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013. Orthopedic surgeons among top specialists recruits, but salary offered falls 7% to $483k.
Orthopedic surgeons are among the top 20 recruited physician specialists. However, salary offers for orthopedic surgeons have fallen 7 percent over the past year. In 2011 to 2012, the average salary offer was $519,000 while the average salary offer in 2012 to 2013 was reported as $483,000.

FDA granted SpineGuard 510(k) clearance for 3 versions of PediGuard platform.
San Francisco-based SpineGuard received FDA 510(k) clearance for three products to complete its PediGuard platform of single-use drilling instruments for pedicle screw pilot holes. Clearance was granted to two miniature versions of the classic and curved range, as well as a directional version of its cannulated series.

FDA issued Class 1 recall for Stryker Spine's OASYS Midline Occiput Plate.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a Class 1 recall for Stryker Spine's OASYS Midline Occiput Plate. The agency's most serious recall was initiated after Stryker received reports of post-operative device fractures with the potential to cause blood loss, nerve injury and the need for revision surgery.

Medtronic expanded offerings with creation of Medtronic Hospital Solution Business.
Medtronic announced the development of the Medtronic Hospital Solution, a business focused on hospital partnerships to increase operational efficiency. Medtronic Hospital Solutions' first contracts have been awarded to two European hospitals to manage the catheterization labs at University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Trust and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London.

Wenzel Spine received patent for VariLift Interbody Fusion Cage.
Austin, Texas-based Wenzel Spine received a new patent for its Zero-Profile VariLift Stand-Alone Expandable Interbody Fusion System. The patent is for the device's expandable osteosynthesis cage.

Tristate Brain and Spine Institute opened new facility.
Alexandria, Minn.-based Tristate Brain and Spine Institute, formerly known as Central Minnesota Spine Center announced the opening of its new facility in Alexandria. The institute was co-founded by Sunny Kim, MD, a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon and H. R. Abbasi MD, a board-certified neurosurgeon.

Dr. Alan Boulos elected to Society of Neurological Surgeons.
Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center announced Alan Boulos, MD, has been elected to the Society of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Boulos is the chief of the division of neurosurgery at Albany Medical Center. He is certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgeons and is a member of the American College of Surgeons, American Heart Association and American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

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