Editor's Note An analysis by Absolute Reports predicts the global lumbar spine fusion market will see a 4.9% compound annual growth rate through the next 4 years, according to the April 26 Becker’s Spine Review. Driving market growth is: a growing demand for minimally invasive spine surgeries an increasing incidence…

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Editor's Note In this study, music therapy was found to decrease pain in patients recovering from spine surgery, compared to a control group who received standard care. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain levels before and after music therapy decreased by more than one point, from 6.20 to 5.09, while VAS…

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Editor's Note A proposed international standard, “WK33006, Guide for Impingement Testing of Total Disc Prostheses,” being developed by ASTM’s committee on medical and surgical materials and devices could help manufacturers improve designs for total disc replacements. The proposed standard will guide manufacturers through the process of characterizing “impingement behavior” of…

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Editor's Note Lumbar spinal fusion performed within 3 months after lumbar epidural steroid injections was associated with a statistically significant increase in postoperative infections in this study. The association was not found when surgery was performed more than 3 months after steroid injections. Of 88,540 patients analyzed, infection rates were:…

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Aging and active Americans are refusing to let back problems slow them down—the number of these patients is increasing, and they prefer the less invasive outpatient methods offered in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). So do their physicians. As a result, ASCs seeking to adopt new procedures are looking more closely…

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Editor's Note Use of the Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH) model in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis undergoing posterior spinal fusion improved surgical outcomes, this study finds. A multidisciplinary group created evidence-based protocols for preoperative, postoperative, and postdischarge patient care. Anesthesiologist comanagement of patients also allowed a new pathway for patients…

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Editor's Note Postoperative ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) in spinal fusion patients significantly decreased from 1998 to 2012 by almost 3-fold, this study finds. Age over 50, male gender, blood transfusion during procedure, and obesity significantly increased the risk of ION. The authors attribute the decline in risk to the increasing…

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Editor's Note A new model consisting of four risk factors can help surgeons predict the risk of complications after surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), this multi-center study finds. Surgical CSM patients have a higher risk of perioperative complications if they have a greater number of comorbidities, coexisting diabetes mellitus,…

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Editor's Note Psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety, were independently associated with higher all cause 30-day readmissions after elective spine surgery in this study. Of 400 patients involved in the study, outcomes data was available for 107. Results showed the rate of readmission was three-fold greater for patients with…

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A new tool that assesses postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) risk in spine patients shows promise for improved patient care. Research on the tool, developed by a nurse, is still ongoing, but early results suggest the tool could help clinicians develop strategies to prevent many SSIs. Postoperative SSI rates for…

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