The next major failure in spine care may not begin in the operating room. It could begin when a patient in a smaller market cannot find a surgeon nearby. It could deepen when an insurer delays imaging, therapy or an…
Outpatient Spine
When Paul McAfee, MD, plans a week of spine surgery, he does not do it at a console in the operating room. He does it on his phone. Every cut, every decompression, every screw trajectory, mapped from a kitchen table…
Spine surgery has historically operated under two sets of economics: one determined by the care delivered and another by the building in which it is delivered. For 2026, Medicare’s ASC conversion factor is $56.322, compared with $91.415 for hospital outpatient…
Historically, growth in spine care was relatively straightforward. Perform more procedures. Build more operating rooms. Expand access to new technologies. Increase volume. A growing number of spine leaders believe that formula is becoming outdated. At Becker’s 23rd Annual Spine, Orthopedic…
For decades, spine surgery has relied on some of medicine’s highest-quality research. Randomized trials. Prospective studies. Single-center investigations led by academic institutions. Those studies transformed spine care, but they also came with a limitation: They often reflected ideal conditions rather…
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Neurosurgery continues to advance through innovations in brain tumor treatment, cerebrovascular care, spine surgery, functional neurosurgery and minimally invasive techniques. Across the country, a select group of neurosurgeons is helping shape the field through clinical excellence, groundbreaking research, leadership and…
Spine surgery continues to evolve through advances in minimally invasive procedures, robotic-assisted technologies, motion-preserving treatments and complex deformity correction. Across the country, a select group of surgeons is helping shape the field through clinical innovation, research leadership, education and the…
Significant innovations and advances in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery include minimally invasive techniques, AI-assisted customization, robotic assistance and 3D-printed and custom implants. However, despite these advances, patient positioning during surgery is an important aspect of ACDFs that…
The outpatient setting is becoming more optimal for some complex spine surgeries, but that is also creating new obstacles in hiring, Bryan Basques, MD, said. Dr. Basques shared his perspective and how practices should approach the challenge. Editor’s note: This…
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion case volume jumped 116% from 2016 to 2021 in hospital owned ASCs, and the payer mix saw significant shifts among patients, according to an analysis in the June 2026 issue of The Spine Journal. Seven…