Seven spine surgeons discuss their research and development plans for 2012.
Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. We invite all spine surgeon and specialist responses. Next week's question is: Do you see yourself or your group participating in an ACO-like arrangement now or in the future?
Please send responses to Laura Miller at laura@beckershealthcare.comby Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 5pm CST. Limit responses to five sentences or less.
Neel Anand, MD (Director of Orthopedic Spine Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Spine Center, Los Angeles):
1. Developing and perfecting strategies for minimally invasive correction of even the most complex scoliosis.
2. Analyzing our data of five years with minimally invasive surgery for scoliosis and looking at the difference in outcomes compared to open traditional surgery
3. Continue to advance the development of new techniques and technology for spine care.
Dennis Crandall, MD (Medical Director, Sonoran Spine Center, Mesa, Ariz.): We are focusing on demonstrating the value of what we as spine surgeons do.
1. One project looks at the cost and value of the procedures we perform, particularly in adult deformity, spondylolisthesis and degenerative disease.
2. We are comparing outcomes to other benchmark orthopedic procedures such as total joint replacement.
3. We are looking at the complications (or lack of complications) associated with BMP at different doses.
4. We are investigating outcomes in deformity correction using low-stress translational techniques.
5. We are also involved in computer modeling of spine stress during deformity correction, quantifying what forces are needed to correct a particular deformity, and how much stress is actually applied when the spine is corrected using current techniques.
Ara Deukmedjian, MD (Founder, Deuk Spine Institute, Melbourne, Fla.): Elective spine procedures are our primary directive for research and public education. We will be assessing ways to improve established treatments and optimize patient outcomes. Our success is defined by our patients' treatment outcome. Our world class team of physicians at Deuk Spine Institute is focused on having the best treatment results in the world for the common spine conditions we treat on a day to day basis including degenerative disc disease, facet syndrome, sacroileiitis, spinal stenosis, radiculopathy, spinal disc herniations, cervicogenic headache, spinal instability and post laminectomy syndrome.
J. Brian Gill, MD (Spine Surgeon, Nebraska Spine Center, Omaha): I am continuing to improve my efficiency in the operating room. I will continue to look at minimally invasive procedures to see if they improve patient outcomes. I am also looking into how image guidance technologies can improve some of the procedures that I perform.
Michael Gleiber, MD (Founder, Michael A. Gleiber, MD, PA, Jupiter, Fla.): Minimally invasive research and development of surgical tools to make this method of surgery safer. I am personally involved in the development of spinal instruments to make surgery safer for patients.
Paul Slosar, MD (President, SpineCare Medical Group, San Francisco Spine Institute): Acid-etched titanium interbody spine implants are my current area of R&D. I am the Medical Director for Titan Spine, which is the first company in the spine space to focus on the implant surface technology. We are publishing cellular, clinical and radiographic data in 2012. I believe we can reduce the need for high-octane biologics by getting spine implants to actually participate in the fusion.
Brian Subach, MD (Director of Research and Spine Surgeon, Virginia Spine Institute, Reston): Primarily outcomes research to establish the efficacy of the procedures we are currently using. Before long, there will be a panel of "experts" who will tell me what I can or cannot do in regard to patient care. By knowing your own outcomes, you then have some recourse.
Related Articles on Spine Surgery:
10 Cost Benchmarks for Outpatient Cervical Spine Surgery
Where Spine Research is Headed: 5 Points From Dr. Frank Phillips
Building a Foundation for Scoliosis Treatment: 3 Important Studies
Please send responses to Laura Miller at laura@beckershealthcare.comby Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 5pm CST. Limit responses to five sentences or less.
Neel Anand, MD (Director of Orthopedic Spine Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Spine Center, Los Angeles):
1. Developing and perfecting strategies for minimally invasive correction of even the most complex scoliosis.
2. Analyzing our data of five years with minimally invasive surgery for scoliosis and looking at the difference in outcomes compared to open traditional surgery
3. Continue to advance the development of new techniques and technology for spine care.
Dennis Crandall, MD (Medical Director, Sonoran Spine Center, Mesa, Ariz.): We are focusing on demonstrating the value of what we as spine surgeons do.
1. One project looks at the cost and value of the procedures we perform, particularly in adult deformity, spondylolisthesis and degenerative disease.
2. We are comparing outcomes to other benchmark orthopedic procedures such as total joint replacement.
3. We are looking at the complications (or lack of complications) associated with BMP at different doses.
4. We are investigating outcomes in deformity correction using low-stress translational techniques.
5. We are also involved in computer modeling of spine stress during deformity correction, quantifying what forces are needed to correct a particular deformity, and how much stress is actually applied when the spine is corrected using current techniques.
Ara Deukmedjian, MD (Founder, Deuk Spine Institute, Melbourne, Fla.): Elective spine procedures are our primary directive for research and public education. We will be assessing ways to improve established treatments and optimize patient outcomes. Our success is defined by our patients' treatment outcome. Our world class team of physicians at Deuk Spine Institute is focused on having the best treatment results in the world for the common spine conditions we treat on a day to day basis including degenerative disc disease, facet syndrome, sacroileiitis, spinal stenosis, radiculopathy, spinal disc herniations, cervicogenic headache, spinal instability and post laminectomy syndrome.
J. Brian Gill, MD (Spine Surgeon, Nebraska Spine Center, Omaha): I am continuing to improve my efficiency in the operating room. I will continue to look at minimally invasive procedures to see if they improve patient outcomes. I am also looking into how image guidance technologies can improve some of the procedures that I perform.
Michael Gleiber, MD (Founder, Michael A. Gleiber, MD, PA, Jupiter, Fla.): Minimally invasive research and development of surgical tools to make this method of surgery safer. I am personally involved in the development of spinal instruments to make surgery safer for patients.
Paul Slosar, MD (President, SpineCare Medical Group, San Francisco Spine Institute): Acid-etched titanium interbody spine implants are my current area of R&D. I am the Medical Director for Titan Spine, which is the first company in the spine space to focus on the implant surface technology. We are publishing cellular, clinical and radiographic data in 2012. I believe we can reduce the need for high-octane biologics by getting spine implants to actually participate in the fusion.
Brian Subach, MD (Director of Research and Spine Surgeon, Virginia Spine Institute, Reston): Primarily outcomes research to establish the efficacy of the procedures we are currently using. Before long, there will be a panel of "experts" who will tell me what I can or cannot do in regard to patient care. By knowing your own outcomes, you then have some recourse.
Related Articles on Spine Surgery:
10 Cost Benchmarks for Outpatient Cervical Spine Surgery
Where Spine Research is Headed: 5 Points From Dr. Frank Phillips
Building a Foundation for Scoliosis Treatment: 3 Important Studies