N20: Spine in the spotlight at global meeting

The Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT) and the Brain Mapping Foundation (BMF) recently hosted their 5th Annual Neuroscience-20 event in Buenos Aires, Argentina (N20; 26–27 November). For the past five years the goal has been to get neuroscience treatments and innovation on the radar for the G20 meeting, the main international forum for economic, financial and political cooperation. This year, the North American Spine Society (NASS) was involved for the first time, bringing spinal issues into focus.

Minimally invasive placement of pedicle screws may lower incidence of proximal junctional kyphosis

A recent study found that using a minimally invasive technique for the placement of pedicle screws at the upper instrumented vertebra lowered the incidence of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) and revision surgery for PJK at two years. The results were presented by Floreana Kebaish (John Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA) at the 53rd annual meeting of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS; 10–13 October, 2018, Bologna, Italy).

Primary tumour types

Peter Varga (National Centre for Spinal Disorders, Budapest, Hungary) gave a talk at the last NSpine meeting on surgical planning strategies and intraoperative handling of different primary tumour types.

Clinical evaluation of non-surgical degenerative disc disease treatment to begin in Japan

The Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency has approved a Clinical Trial Notification application for IDCT (DiscGenics), an allogenic injectable disc cell therapy for the treatment of degenerative disc disease. DiscGenics intends to initiate a prospective, double-blinded, sham-controlled, multicentre clinical study to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of IDCT in Japanese patients with painful, single-level lumbar DDD. 

Medtronic completes acquisition of Mazor Robotics

It was announced recently that Medtronic has completed the acquisition of Mazor Robotics. The total value of the transaction is reported at US$1.7 billion, or US$1.3 billion net of Medtronic’s existing stake in Mazor and cash acquired. The transaction ranks among the largest orthopaedic deals completed in 2018.

Digital healthcare partnership aims to reduce low back pain

Swedish digital healthcare provider, Min Doktor, and Kaia Health, a digital therapeutics company, have partnered to offer back pain treatment through a mobile application. A recent study found that Kaia Health’s artificial intelligence (AI) app reduced user-reported back pain levels “significantly”.

US launch of small stature scoliosis system

The RESPONSE 4.5/5.0mm System (OrthoPediatrics) has been launched in the USA. The company’s newest system, which received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance in October, represents a product expansion for physicians to treat complex scoliosis in smaller stature patients at a younger age.

18–19 January

Global Neurosurgery 2019: A Practical Symposium

New York, USA

26–28 March

2nd Combined Meeting with NASS, SOSSOP, APSS, OASAC-SAARC and POS

Lahore, Pakistan

3–5 April

International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS) 19th Annual Conference

Anaheim, USA