Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for Oct. 26, 2017.
Stryker acquires Vexim for $97M
Stryker acquired a majority of share capital and voting rights of Vexim, a medical device company focused on minimally invasive vertebral fracture treatment, for approximately $97.1 million. On Oct. 24, Stryker acquired more than 4.1-plus million Vexim shares, which is 50.7 percent of share capital and represents 50.3 percent of company voting rights. Stryker will take over Vexim's SpineJack FDA trial.
K2M acquires technology from Cardinal Spine
K2M acquired the Palo Alto Cervical Static Corpectomy Cage System from Cardinal Spine. Palo Alto was the first static corpectomy cage to receive FDA clearance for the cervical spine, and K2M acquired all associated intellectual property and product inventory from Cardinal Spine.
Dr. Lars Aanning surrenders medical license ahead of board hearing on 20+-year-old lie
Retired spine surgeon Lars Aanning, MD — noted for his role in bringing down Allen Sossan, MD, whose botched surgeries led to patient paralysis and death — surrendered his medical license, according to a report from The Argus Leader. The South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners was scheduled to hold a hearing to revoke Dr. Aanning's medical license on Oct. 27 based on his admission to lying under oath more than 20 years ago. In 2016, Dr. Aanning wrote a column in The Yankton County Observer, later published in ProPublica, confessing he lied under oath to protect his partner and explaining why he did it.
Mazor Robotics' Renaissance Guidance System reduces surgical complications, revision
A study comparing the use of Mazor Robotics' Renaissance Guidance System powered by Mazor Core technology and fluoroscopic-guided, freehand procedures found the Mazor Robotics' navigation system reduces the number of surgical complications and revision surgeries. Read about the study, here.
Smith & Nephew to purchase regenerative medicine company for $210M
Smith & Nephew plans to acquire Minnesota-based Rotation Medical, a developer of regenerative medicine technologies for patients suffering from rotator cuff disease, for $210 million, according to Reuters. The company will pay $125 million upfront followed by $85 million over the next five years if certain financial targets are met.
Woman forges 132 opioid prescriptions with Duke neurosurgeon's name
A woman pleaded guilty to illegally receiving 8,000-plus hydrocodone pills in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina Oct. 4, according to The Chronicle. The woman used a Duke Medicine neurosurgeon's name and Drug Enforcement Administration number to fill 132 prescriptions. The Department of Justice report didn't disclose the neurosurgeon's name.
NuVasive Q3 U.S. revenue slumps 3.5% due to hurricanes
NuVasive reported a 3.2 percent revenue increase for the third quarter and updated full year guidance. However, the recent hurricanes negatively affected quarterly revenue by around $5 million, according to CEO Gregory Lucier. Revenue growth was driven primarily by international sales, which were up around 46 percent for the quarter. U.S. revenue dropped 3.5 percent.
Dr. Alok Sharan presents results of novel surgical procedure at the NuVasive Spine Summit
Alok Sharan, MD, co-director of the Westmed Spine Center in Yonkers, N.Y., recently presented results of a novel surgical procedure called awake spinal fusion at the Nuvasive Spine Summit. Preliminary results indicate the procedure can have favorable outcomes with a shorter length of stay for appropriately selected patients.