5 spine, orthopedic studies to know

Spine

From industry investments to orthopedic outcomes, Becker's reported on five key spine and orthopedic studies so far in January.

1. A study from Plano-based Texas Back Institute found positive clinical results for patients having hybrid spine surgery. Researchers looked at a series of 305 patients having lumbar hybrid surgery (a disc replacement at one level and fusion at an adjacent level) since 2005 and measured clinical outcome data. Hybrid spine patients had statistically significant improvements in the mean values of visual analog scale scores for back pain and leg pain, and Oswestry Disability Index improved from 45.5 to 24.6. 

2. A study from Wilmington, Del.-based Nemours Children's Health found that more than a third of pediatric orthopedic cases transferred to hospitals could have been avoided through the use of telemedicine. 

3. Venture capital investors poured billions of dollars into the spine surgery industry from 2000 to 2023, according to a study in the January 2025 issue of The Spine Journal. A total of $5.3 billion was invested in spine surgery, and nonsurgical devices saw the lion's share of 42.6%.  Annual investments increased by 1,782%, but there was a decline in 2023. That decline was "likely due to macroeconomic factors," the study said.

4. A study from a research team at Boston-based Mass General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, published in The Journal of Arthroplasty, has determined that patients with a high body mass index cost facilities up to 7% for joint arthroplasty. The research determined that BMI values of 35%, 40% and 45% were associated with 2%, 3% and 5% increases in total facility costs for total knee arthroplasty procedures, respectively. For total hip arthroplasty, those same BMI values of 35%, 40% and 45% were associated with 3%, 5% and 7% increases in facility total costs, respectively.

5. An internal study of New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery's Lifestyle Medicine Program found it was effective for elective orthopedic surgery patients. The study looked at early outcomes for 54 patients who enrolled in the program between March 2022 and December 2023. About 90% of patients had two or more lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Of the 54 patients, 41 of them had surgery scheduled, and 93% of them improved their health on time. Thirteen other patients were referred to the program to qualify for elective surgery, and 85% of them could proceed with it. Collectively, 91% of the entire group had surgery after enrolling in the program.

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