1st
Edition - May 2007
| Topics |
Welcome & Introduction
D. Greg Anderson, MD; Carl Lauryssen, MD; Nathan Lebwohl, MDWelcome to first edition of the DePuy Spine Future Leaders e-communication sponsored by DePuy Spine. We are excited about this opportunity to communicate with you on a quarterly basis. The goal of this communication is to keep you informed about important topics related to clinical treatments for your patients, managing your practice, upcoming educational events, and product news from DePuy Spine. Each quarter, there will be an opportunity for you to participate in a case review. Correct answers will be entered into a drawing for an educational prize, such as a textbook or spine model.
We hope you enjoy this first installment of Future Leaders. Your feedback is very important to us. Please feel free to contact us with your thoughts. You may reach us through DePuy Spine Medical Education at medicaleducation@dpyus.jnj.com.
Message from DePuy Spine Management Board
Gary FischettiWelcome to Future Leaders in Spine Surgery!
I realize these are formative years for you as a surgeon, and challenging and exciting times for the practice of spinal surgery as a whole. Many innovative products and techniques are continually introduced. Future Leaders will feature information about these as well as educational opportunities, patient case challenges, and practice-related business solutions.
At DePuy Spine we are committed to education and to your success in this highly technical and continually evolving field. I hope you’ll find this quarterly e-communication to be a rich source of information as you progress in your own training, development, and practice.
I invite you to share your thoughts, inquiries, and challenges with us. This forum provides a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and to learn from each other.
Best regards,
Gary Fischetti
President
What’s HOT at DePuy Spine
DePuy Spine MarketingAPPEALS SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
FOR THE CHARITÉ
ARTIFICIAL DISC
If you decide the CHARITÉ Artificial Disc is right for your patient and need assistance obtaining a prior authorization or appealing a denial for insurance coverage, DePuy Spine welcomes you to enroll your patients in the Appeals Support and Assistance Program (ASAP).
When you enroll your patients in ASAP, you’ll benefit from:
- Benefits investigation and payer reimbursement research
- Prior authorization and appeal outcomes research
- Appeal deadline management
- Customized appeal letters from the program's Nurse Case Managers
- Template appeal letters for you and your office
Product News
In
February 2007 DePuy Spine introduced the AEGIS Anterior Lumbar Plate
System designed to treat degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine. Some
of the key features of this unique plate system include: - AEGIS has the lowest profile of any anterior lumbar plate system
- It is the only plate that can be implanted mid-line or laterally between any two vertebrae in the lumbar region, including the sacrum (L1-S1).
- AEGIS is contoured to recess into the space between two vertebral bodies and features angled tabs (15 degrees) that attach the plate to the cortical rim (anterior edge) of the vertebrae.
- The plate also uses a patented screw locking mechanism that uses cams instead of screw covers or other means to hold the screws in place.
In November 2006 DePuy Spine introduced the EXPEDIUM
SFX Cross Connector System, a system designed to make cross connector implantation quicker, easier and more secure at the completion of spinal fusion surgery.
EXPEDIUM SFX offers a unique "snap-fit" feature that provides surgeons audible and tactile feedback that confirms the cross connector is securely attached to the rod. It's top-loading design can reduce operative time compared with existing cross connectors that require implantation at an angle.
In May 2007
DePuy Spine will introduce the SPOTLIGHT Reusable Port System to the market.
This unique port system designed to assist the surgeon during minimally invasive
access to the spine, has an advanced integrated light source at the distal end,
which provides 360° of lighting to eliminate shadows in the working space.Port lengths will be available in five different sizes to accommodate a variety of surgical preferences and procedures. The flat and anatomical shaped port tips allow for easy access to the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine.
We are very excited about these additions to the DePuy Spine product portfolio. For more information about these or any DePuy Spine product please contact your local DePuy Spine Sales Representative.
A Look Ahead - Upcoming Education / Events
Date |
Meeting |
Location |
Faculty (if applicable) |
Website (if applicable) |
| May 18, 2007 | *DePuy Spine MIS Bioskills Workshop | Dallas, TX | ||
| May 18-19, 2007 | NASS: Motion Preservation Workshop | Chicago, IL | Thomas Errico, MD Richard Guyer, MD |
View Website |
| May 18-19,2007 | Complex Surgical Techniques for Treating Cervical Spine Pathology: A CME Course | Baltimore, MD | Michael Groff, MD | View Website |
| May 23-26, 2007 | POSNA Annual Meeting | Fort Lauderdale, FL | View Website | |
| June 1-2, 2007 | *Complex Adult Spine: A DePuy Spine Educational Event | Chicago, IL | Christopher DeWald, MD Kim Hammerberg, MD Juergen Harms, Prof, MD |
|
| June 10-14, 2007 | ISSLS Annual Meeting | Hong Kong, China | View Website | |
| June 14-15, 2007 | *Advanced Deformity Visitation: A DePuy Spine Educational Event | Miami, FL | Harry Shufflebarger, MD Michael O'Brien, MD |
|
| June 15-16, 2007 | Cine-Med Complex Cervical Spine Pathology: A CME Training program | Baltimore, MD | Steven Ludwig, MD | View Website |
| June 27-30, 2007 | Spine Technology Education Group | Los Cabos, Mexico | Todd Albert, MD | View Website |
| July 7, 2007 | Spine Fundamentals: Surgical Solution for Spine Pathologies. CEU accredited Surgical Nurse Education | Plano, TX | ||
| July 11-14, 2007 | International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques | Bahamas | View Website | |
| July 18-24, 2007 | Spine Review Hands-on Education: Cleveland Clinic Foundation | Cleveland, OH | ||
| July 19-20, 2007 | *DePuy Spine Advanced Deformity Visitation | Miami, FL | Harry Shufflebarger, MD | |
| July 29- August 1, 2007 |
World Spine IV | Istanbul, Turkey | View Website | |
| August 3-4, 2007 | Practical Anatomy Workshop: The 14th Advanced Techniques in Cervical Spine Decompression and Stabilization | St. Louis, MO | Daniel K. Riew, MD Alexander J. Ghanayem, MD |
View Website |
| August 9-12, 2007 | 9th Annual Chicago Trauma Symposium | Chicago, IL | Matthew L. Jimenez, MD | View Website |
| August 16-18, 2007 | *DePuy Spine Advanced Training for Spine Fellows: MIS & Artificial Disc Replacement | Baltimore, MD | D. Greg Anderson Carl Lauryssen, MD Nathan Lebwohl, MD |
|
| August 24, 2007 | *DePuy Spine CHARITE Artificial Disc Bioskills Workshop | Raynham, MA | ||
| August 24-25, 2007 | Cine-Med Complex Cervical Spine Pathology: A CME Training program | Seattle, WA | Michael Wang, MD | View Website |
*For more information regarding DePuy Spine Medical Education events please contact the DePuy Spine Medical Education department at 1-800-741-8075.
Must Read Clinical Articles
Long-term Results of One-Level lumbar Arthroplasty: Minimum 10-Year Follow-up of the CHARITE Artificial Disc in 106 PatientsThierry David, MD
Spine. 32(6):661-666, March 15, 2007
Read Article...
Coronal and Sagittal Plane Correction in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Comparison Between All Pedicle Screw Versus Hybrid Thoracic Hook Lumbar Screw Constructs
Jason E. Lowenstein, MD; Hiroko Matsumoto, MA; Michael G. Vitale, MD, MPH, Mark Weidenbaum, MD; Jamie A. Gomez, MD; Francis Young-In Lee, MD, PhD; Joshua E. Hyman, MD; David P. Roye, Jr., MD
SPINE 32(4):448-452, February 15, 2007
Read Article...
Radiosurgery for Spinal Metastases: Clinical Experience 500 Cases From a Single Institution
Peter C. Gerszten, MD, MPH; Steven A. Burton, MD; Cihat Ozhasoglu, PhD; William C. Welch, MD, FACS
SPINE 32(2):193-199, January 15, 2007
Read Article...
DePuy Spine in the Journals
As part of our commitment to further the clinical evidence in the spine community, we are proud to offer the following clinical research articles that further support the use of our products.Biomechanical Assessment of Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion with an Anterior Lumbosacral Fixation Screw-Plate: Comparison to Stand-Alone Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion with Pedicle Screws in an Unstable Human Cadaver Model.
Mark Gerber, MD, Neil R. Crawford, PhD, Robert H. Chamberlain, MS, Mary S. Fifield, BSE, Jean-Charles LeHuec, PhD, Curtis Dickman, MD
SPINE 31(7) 762-768, April 1, 2006
Read Article...
Biomechanical Evaluation of Occipital Fixation
Panayiotis J. Papagelopoulos, Bradford L. Currier, James Stone, John J. Grabowski, Dirk R. Larson, Dean R. Fisher, and Kai-Nan An
Journal of Spinal Disorders 13(4) 336-344 August 2000
Read Article...
A preliminary comparative study of radiographic results using mineralized collagen and bone marrow aspirate vs. autologous bone in the same patient undergoing posterior lumbar interbody fusion with instrumented posterolateral lumbar fusion
Scott H. Kitchel, MD
The Spine Journal 6 (200) 405-412 July-August 2006
Access to the PDF reprint is enabled by the DocuRights plug-in application, so please open the electronic reprint with Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader, version 5.0 or later. You will be guided through the brief installation process, and the reprint PDF will open automatically once the plug-in is installed.
Read ArticlePractice Related Tips & Tricks
Jennifer Beaver, Zupko & AssociatesNational Provider Identifier Update
Jennifer Beaver, MS, FACE
Karen Zupko & Associates, Inc.
www.karenzupko.com
As a result of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) legislation, providers are required to apply for a NPI - National Provider Identifier - which will be utilized by all payors to identify providers on insurance claims. The NPI replaces all previously issued provider identifier numbers from Medicare and other plans. The deadline for receiving and initiating use of the NPI is May 23, 2007. NPIs, once issued, remain with the physician even if he or she moves or joins or leaves a group.
If practicing physicians and fellows want to be paid for the work they perform after the NPI implementation deadline, the NPI must be listed on the insurance claim form. In addition, surgical specialist physicians who often perform and bill for consultations will have to include the NPI of the physician requesting the consultation (primary care physician, etc) on the claim from.
So what do physicians need to do relative to the NPI?
- If you are a resident, fellow, or practicing academic physician check with your institution - they have likely already applied for a NPI number for you through a process known as "bulk enumeration." Be sure you know what your NPI is so you can use it on subsequent applications and provide it to future employers.
- If you are in a private practice setting, check with your administrator and confirm NPIs have been obtained for all physicians in the group as well as for the group practice itself. If the required NPIs have not been obtained, have your administrator visit https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/Welcome.do to apply online.
- Work with your administrator or department head to share your NPI with other physicians you regularly work with and obtain NPIs of physicians who regularly request your opinion in consultation. Many practices are sending letters to their referring physicians to get this process rolling; in that letter they are including their own NPIs.
- Have your administrator ensure your billing system vendor has loaded your NPI numbers in the computer and formatted the claim form to include this new information when billing. Practices should start testing claim submission with these new numbers prior to the May 23, 2007 deadline.
Powered by AllAboutBackandNeckPain.com the DePuy Spine eBusiness Strategy Team is able to offer you flexible, customizable SOLUTIONS to either initiate or enhance your presence on the Web. Now, you can get all of the assistance you need from one source, without the time and expense of doing it yourself! We offer web site development assistance; web based patient education materials and our
medical professional locator service. For more information contact eBusiness Strategy
and 508 828-2700.
Spine Case Challenge #1
Submitted by Nathan Lebwohl, MDTake the multiple-choice test and send answers to: Stephanie West.
Correct answers will be entered into a drawing for valuable educational prizes.
70 year old woman with rheumatoid arthritis who presents with mild neck discomfort and a complaint of progressive heaviness in her extremities. She ambulates without the assistance of a walker. Her motor strength is good throughout, with no focal deficits, and her reflexes are remarkable only for a Hoffman's sign bilaterally.
Questions:
1) How would you manage this case?
a) odontoid resection
b) occiptocervical fusion
c) occipticervical fusion and C1 laminectomy
d) C1-C2 fusion
2) What percentage of patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing total joint replacement of the knee or hip have radiographic evidence of atlantoaxial instability without any complaints of neck pain or myelopathy? (HINT: Predictors of paralysis in the rheumatoid cervical spine in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty.)
a) 15%3) In a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who has no neck pain or myelopathy, but has radiographic evidence of atlantoaxial instability, what radiographic parameter is most useful for determining whether surgical intervention is needed?
b) 50%
c) 80%
a) Anterior Atlanto-Dens interval greater than 5mm
b) Posterior Atlanto Dens Interval less than 14mm
Next Quarter...
Submit a case!Would you like one of your cases to be featured in next quarter's issue of the Future Leaders E-Newsletter? Please submit your case to Stephanie West with the DePuy Spine Medical Education Department. Stephanie can also be reached at 508 828-3680.
Is there something clinically relevant or practice related that you would like to us to add to the next e-dition of this communication? Submit your ideas to improve the information we provide to you in this e-newsletter to Stephanie West.
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