Here are four spine and orthopedic surgery "firsts" since Oct. 1.

Sigurd Berven, MD, professor in residence and chief of spine service at UCSF Health sees spine surgery moving outpatient as technology develops and surgeons become more precise with their approach to care.

Next year could see increased integration of endoscopic spine techniques, according to Paul Houle, MD. 

Physicians at the University of Louisville (Ky.) Medical Center have performed spine surgery on Virginia running back Perris Jones after he was injured in the third quarter of the team's 11th game of the season, according to a Nov. 11 report from ABC affiliate WHAS.

Here are five spine centers to know:

The Cincinnati-based UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute has launched a new clinical trial aiming to improve postsurgical pain and reduce opioid dependency and length of stay for patients undergoing spine surgery. 

Spine technology company Spinal Elements is celebrating 20 years in the business. 

Golden, Colo.-based Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center added Justin Ledesma, MD, according to a Nov. 8 LinkedIn post.

While it's important for spine surgeons to strategize on cost savings and revenue boosts, it's just as vital to know where to invest money when it comes to running a strong practice.

Spinal implant specialist the Spineway Group has appointed Sandrine Carle as deputy CEO. Ms. Carle originally joined Spineway in July 2022 when the company acquired Spine Innovations, where she was CEO. 

Healthcare technology company Aclarion has added Roger Hartl, MD, professor of neurological surgery and director of spinal surgery at the Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center in New York City and co-director of NewYork-Presbyterian Och Spine, as the 10th and final member of its key opinion leaders panel. 

Two Katy Pain & Spine physicians, Nimish Dave, MD, and Karan Madan, MD, are part of a team of five physicians spearheading the development of a three-story medical office building in Katy, Texas, according to a Nov. 4 report from the Katy Times.

Spine surgeons are unhappy with CMS after plans for 2024 physician pay were revealed last week.

In September, Veyond Metaverse completed the world's first digital spine surgery remotely, from Paris to Yangon, Myanmar, using the Veyond Connect XR technology platform. 

A new spine facility, the Spine Center of Excellence, has opened its doors in Bossier City, La., according to a Nov. 2 report from ABC affiliate KTBS.

The North American Spine Society is reducing the size of its board of directors, the organization's president, Zoher Ghogawala, MD, said Nov. 3.

While UnitedHealthcare has recently taken steps to remove several orthopedic and spine codes from its list of procedures requiring prior authorization, surgeons are not necessarily seeing positive outcomes from code removals. 

Career mentorship can be a two-way street where both parties learn from each other. Here is what four spine surgeons have learned from younger physicians in the field.

John Braca, III, MD, was named chief of neurosurgery at the UPMC Neurological Institute and hospital services in central and north central Pennsylvania, Tri-State Alert reported Nov. 1.

Dean Chou, MD, is chief of the spine division at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City.