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Despite Surgeon Support, NEJM Vertebroplasty Articles Spark Slowdown, Reimbursement Review

Two controversial clinical studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine are forcing Medtronic and Orthovita to convince primary care physicians of the benefits of kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty.

Following the publication of two clinical studies in the New England Journal of Medicine questioning the efficacy of vertebroplasty procedures, spinal specialists—both surgeons and interventional radiologists—stood solidly behind treatment that involves the percutaneous injection of bone cement in the core of a fractured vertebra. Vertebroplasty, they argued, brought immediate relief to patients suffering from the painful back injury. Yes, the long-term benefit might often be equivalent to conservative care—rest and medication, in this case, but patients who couldn't function normally due to back pain were able to resume their regular lives thanks to the non-invasive surgery.

But spinal specialists clearly aren't having the last word on this debate. The publication of the two critical—and highly criticized—articles...

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In Partnership with Cerba Research

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