Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for July 14, 2016.
Spine surgeons team up to create International Society of Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Spine surgeons around the world have come together to create the International Society of Endoscopic Spine Surgery. ISESS' mission involves offering fellow surgeons the knowledge and training required to successfully perform endoscopic spine surgery. Currently, U.S. surgeons perform 1 percent of global endoscopic spine surgeries, compared to Asian surgeons performing 40 percent of global endoscopic spine surgeries.
Minimally invasive vs. open spinal fusion: Cost & quality
A new study published in Spine examines the effectiveness and economics of open and minimally invasive posterior or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Although both groups' operative times were similar, patients in the open spine surgery group had longer hospital stays than the patients in the minimally invasive surgery group. Additionally, the economic studies show a cost savings for the minimally invasive fusion patients ranging from 2.5 percent to 49.3 percent.
Medtronic & DePuy Synthes dominate global spinal implants, devices market
The global spinal implants and devices market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.6 percent between 2015 and 2020, based on a Market Report World analysis. Medtronic and DePuy Synthes dominate the global spinal implants and devices market. Together, the companies capture a 47.4 percent global market share.
Orthopedics among top fields with widest gender pay gap
Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, both in Boston, researchers found female physicians made nearly $20,000 less, on average, than male physicians. The study found female physicians made $227,783 annually, 8 percent less than male physicians ($247,661). Researchers noted the widest pay gaps were in the fields of orthopedic surgery, gynecology and cardiology.
Medtronic deepens investment in robotics with $20M, 15-system order of Mazor X
Medtronic is ready to invest an additional $20 million in Mazor Robotics, an announcement that broke just ahead of Mazor announcing its newest technology: Mazor X. The platform expands on Mazor's robotic guidance technology to include analytical tools, multiple-source data, precision guidance, optical tracking, intra-op verification and connectivity technologies.
Implanet reports 68% spine sales growth in Q2
France-based Implanet reported revenue growth in the first half of 2016. Spine sales grew 68 percent, driven by JAZZ implant sales in the United States totaling 508 units.
Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation donates $1M to Children's Minnesota's pediatric neurosurgery suite
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation donated $1 million to Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, headquartered in Minneapolis. The donation will help fund construction of a pediatric neurosurgery suite at the Children's Minnesota's St. Paul Campus. The hospital expects construction to conclude in 2017.
Dr. Jeffrey Gleimer implants 1st ENZA MIS Zero-Profile ALIF device
Jeffrey Gleimer, DO, implanted the first ENZA MIS Zero-Profile anterior lumbar interbody fusion device in the country. The device is indicated for use with autogenous bone graft in patients with degenerative disc disease at one or two contiguous levels from L2 to S1. The Camber Spine Technologies-developed device is intended for use with additional FDA-cleared supplementary fixation systems.