Becker's Spine Review

16 SPINE SURGEONS What hospitals in 10 cities charge for a common spine surgery By Eric Oliver F air Health created a database that pres- ents in-network and out-of-network costs for an array of procedures across the U.S. Becker's ASC Review used a list of the most populated ZIP codes and the Fair Health tool to create this list. Here's what hospitals in 10 U.S. cities charge for insertion of stabilizing or separating de- vice into lower spine at single level with open decompression (22867) 1. Katy, Texas, 77449 In network: $41,545 Out of network: $83,753 2. Queens, New York City, 11368 In network: $17,092 Out of network: $42,683 3. Chicago, 60629 In network: $11,664 Out of network: $24,513 4. Los Angeles, 90011 In network: $40,548 Out of network: $91,179 5. Fontana, Calif., 92335 In network: $26,643 Out of network: $58,642 6. Lakewood, N.J., 08701 In network: $34,367 Out of network: $62,906 7. Frisco, Texas, 75034 In network: $9,956 Out of network: $22,846 8. Antioch, Tenn., 37013 In network: $25,492 Out of network: $55,315 9. Pittsburg, Calif., 94565 In network: $34,227 Out of network: $76,053 10. Atlanta, 30044 In network: $21,249 Out of network: $45,945 Note: All in-network costs are based on esti- mates of what a health plan pays to a physi- cian. All in-network and out of network costs are estimated to the 80th percentile. For this procedure, 80 percent of all charges are lower or equal to this charge.n Dr. Justin Bundy performs Georgia's 1st AR spine surgery By Alan Condon T he first augmented reality-assisted spine surgery in Georgia has been completed by Justin Bundy, MD, at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, Fox news affiliate WFXG reported March 3. Dr. Bundy performed the surgery about a month ago, he said, with Augmedics' Xvision Spine system, named one of the best inventions of 2020 by Time magazine. The device has a headset designed to function as if the surgeon has X-ray vision into the patient's anatomy to accurately navi- gate instruments and implants while looking at the patient instead of a screen. Xvision determines the position of surgical tools and su- perimposes them on the patient's CT data, which is pro- jected onto the surgeon's retina using the headset, allow- ing the surgeon to simultaneously look at the patient and the navigation data. Dr. Bundy told WFXG the system allowed him to make "less incisions and less invasive muscle dissection to put in screws safety. Being able to do that enhances the pa- tients' outcomes as far as recovery goes, as far as safety goes, as far as reproducibly knowing exactly where we are at during the operation." n Connecticut system welcomes 1st female neurosurgeon By Laura Dyrda A rianne Boylan, MD, became the first female neurosurgeon at Hartford (Conn.) Healthcare Network when she joined the system's Spine Wellness Center in Westport, Conn., in early March, according to a report from News 12: The Bronx. Dr. Boylan is also the director of neurotrauma at St. Vin- cent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, Conn. She performs complex spine surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery and spinal deformity cases in addition to treating pa- tients with brain tumors and Chiari malformations. She also incorporates computer assisted technology and ro- botics into her surgical procedures. Dr. Boylan is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Women in Neurosurgery and North American Spine Society. She earned her medical degree at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., and underwent residencies at the University of Colorado in Boulder and Wayne State University in Detroit. Dr. Boylan completed two fellowships: one in spinal on- cology at Detroit Medical Center and a second in spinal deformity at Yale University School of Medicine. n

• Cover