Becker's Spine Review

67 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SPINE DEVICE & INNOVATION HEALTHCARE REFORM X-Spine's outstanding common stock in exchange for around 4.24 million shares of Bacterin common stock and around $60 million in cash. e new company is called Xtant Medical Holdings. • Amendia's acquisition of Custom Spine: e acquisi- tion will add SpineSelect's unique minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion system to Amendia's product portfolios. • ChoiceSpine acquiring Baxano systems: Baxano Sur- gical filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late 2014. e technology acquisition expands ChoiceSpine's efforts to grow the company's Western footprint. Spine studies 26. A substantial difference in the postoperative utility between two groups of patients who received disc re- placement versus spinal fusion surgeries existed at every point from six months to 60 months, according to a study published by Spine. e study compared evidence from a previous controlled trial to compare disc replacement to spinal fusion for quality of life. e researchers con- cluded that this data could be used as baselines for future cost-utility analyses in similar populations. 27. Cervical disc arthroplasty reduced monthly costs of care compared with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, according to a study published in Spine. Research- ers looked at the outcomes for patients ranging from 18 years olds to 60 year olds who had surgery for single-level cervical disc disease between 2008 and 2009. e study found total insurer payments for the disc replacement patients were lower than the fusion patients, at $34,979 versus $39,820. 28. Both neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons have similar 30-day readmission and surgical site infec- tion following spinal fusion surgeries, according to a study published in Spine. 29. Patients who are younger, less educated, and smoke seem to be less satisfied with clinical visits, according to a recent study in Spine. 30. St. Jude's Invisible Trial System is the first SCS trial sys- tem to use Bluetooth and Apple technology. e wireless system is designed to limit distractions caused by bulky cables and complex controllers, so chronic pain patients can more accurately assess the impact of the therapy. e iPad mini allows physicians to view, print and email EPG data in PDF format and the iPod touch provides patients with a simple platform to adjust their therapy. 31. A Spine study investigated whether anterior or pos- terior cervical fusion produced better results. While the anterior approach resulted in a lower 30-day complication rate, that approach also resulted in more dysphasia. e anterior group also had less hospital payments and lower 30-day readmission rates. 32. Injured workers will most likely undergo back surgery in certain parts of the country, according to a Workers Compensation Research Institute study. Of the workers compensation patients surveyed in 13 states, 20 percent of those in Oklahoma and Tennessee underwent back surgery. Comparatively, less than 10 percent of workers in California and Florida with similar diagnoses had surgery. e study contributed the disparities to surgery-intensive local practice norms, higher reimbursement rates and availability of more surgeons. 33. e highest severe screw malposition rates were be- tween T3 and T8, according to a study published in Spinal Deformity, the Scoliosis Research Society journal. e study investigated postoperative CTs for 85 patients who received 605 screws. 34. "e use of a cage with or without plate constructs in two-level ACDF provides similar clinical results and fusion rates," according to an article published in e Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques. Researchers also concluded that "ACDF-CPC showed higher incidence of ASD than ACDF-CA over the two-year follow-up." Researchers examined adjacent segment degeneration for two-level anterior cervical discectomy, comparing fusion with standalone cages and fusion with cage and plate con- structs. e study looked at 42 consecutive patients who underwent two-level ACDF with standalone cages or with cages and plate constructs. 35. Gender-specific spines were found in newborns at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Researchers found that gender-differing spines in men and women develop at birth rather than over time, based on a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, according to Sopedia. e new study builds on the scientifically accepted fact that male spines have bigger cross-sections than female spines. Researchers at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles found that the difference between male and female spines is already existent at birth. 36. Graduating from a top-20 medical school proves to be the top deciding factor in whether spine surgeons will choose to practice in the academic field aer completing a fellowship program, according to a study in Spine. e other top factors include: • Graduation from a top-20 medical school • Indication of a desire to enter the academic field- • Five or more national presentations

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