Becker's Spine Review

15 SPINE SURGEONS Cost-effective spinal fusion and the future of robotics in spine By Alan Condon P aducah, Ky.-based omas Gruber, MD, is a board-certi- fied neurosurgeon affiliated with Baptist Health Medical Group in Jacksonville, Fla. Here, Dr. Gruber shares his insights on cost-effectiveness in spinal fusion as well as the future of robotics and navigation in spine. Question: How can spine surgeons help make spinal fusions more cost-effective without sacrificing qual- ity? How do you see spinal fusions evolving in the future? Dr. omas Gruber: Continued investment in the develop- ment of minimally invasive procedures that can be done in an ASC setting is the most promising way to decrease the cost of spine surgery without sacrificing quality. Additionally, hospital systems continuing to work closely in good faith with medical device companies to control the cost of spinal implants will also go a long way toward maximizing our reimbursements and con- trolling costs of spine surgery. Q: Which spine device has dramatically improved OR efficiency in your practice? TG: No question. e O-arm Stealth navigation system has most dramatically improved OR efficiency. Procedures are done quicker and more efficiently and allow us to run multiple navi- gated rooms simultaneously. Q: What are the most pressing issues for outpatient spinal fusions? TG: Developing minimally invasive techniques that allow more complicated fusion procedures to be done safely in an ASC set- ting and pushing navigation out to the ASC. Q: How do you think robotics will impact spinal fu- sions in the future? TG: Robotics will be the standard of care, not only for spinal fusion surgery, but their role will likely expand into other areas of neurosurgery as the technology continues to develop. Q: In your opinion, what is the next big trend on the horizon in spine? TG: e future is not in the next screw that is released or the next coated implant, it is in technology such as the relationship of robotics and navigation, the role of dorsal column stimulators in spinal cord injury and integration of artificial intelligence in spinal surgery planning. ese are the developments that are go- ing to change how we do our jobs in the future. n HSS appoints new co-chiefs of spine service By Eric Oliver N ew York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery ap- pointed Harvinder Sandhu, MD, and Andrew Sama, MD, as the new co-chiefs of HSS Spine. What you should know: 1. The pair succeeds Frank Schwab, MD, who will transition to a chief emeritus role and continue to practice at HSS. 2. HSS Spine cites Dr. Schwab's leadership as the reason HSS Spine has advanced both clinically and academically. 3. Drs. Sandhu and Sama will be tasked with continuing that advancement. 4. Dr. Sandhu specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery, microsurgery, computer-assisted surgery and spinal biolog- ics. He joined HSS in 1997, after a tenure as the chief of spinal service at UCLA. 5. Dr. Sama specializes in traumatic, degenerative and defor- mity-related conditions of the spine. He completed a fellow- ship at HSS before going into practice in 2001. n Patient sues physician, hospital over inability to provide medical records after spinal cord implant By Alan Condon A woman from Houston alleged that a group of medical companies failed to provide her medical records after she was implanted with a spinal cord stimulator in 2017, SE Texas Record reported. The complaint stated that the woman has been trying to ob- tain a copy of her medical and imaging records. The defendants alleged they have none of the records that the plaintiff had been requesting. The complaint, filed Aug. 12, named multiple defendants in the suit, alleging breach of statutory duty, breach of contract, conversion and fraud. The defendants include anesthesiologist Phillip Phan, MD, US Pain & Spine Institute (Houston), Waterway Medical Manage- ment (The Woodlands, Texas) and Kent Olsan, president of WMM. The woman is seeking attorney fees, court costs, all equitable relief and interest. n

• Cover