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Procedure of the Month

This is the case of a 68 year-old male suffering from severe back pain for 3 months. Patient failed conservative treatment with high doses of analgesics. MRI was performed, as shown in Figure 1 below. This T2-weighted image clearly revealed evidence of acute fracture with bone marrow edema at the L1 level. Which choice do you think best describes the patient's treatment options (click on the x-ray below to take the multiple choice/guess test)?

Figure 1: Preoperative T2-weighted sagittal MRI showed evidence of bone marrow edema indicative of acute fracture at the L1 level (arrow).

Case review and x-rays courtesy of
Dr. Bassem A Georgy.
Interventional Radiologist Valley Radiology Consultants Assistant Clinical Professor University of California, San Diego

SPONSORED BY:


Procedure of the Month Sponsored by DePuy Spine, Inc.


 

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Sales Tips & Quips

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How to Get the Surgeon’s Attention
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted December 18
, 2007)
Understanding relationship dynamics and having the chutzpah to put your best creative foot forward can garner you real success as a sales rep. Find out how to bring inventiveness to the sales process so as to attract and retain the surgeon’s attention.

Selling Yourself: Career Advancement for Sales Reps
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted December 10
, 2007)
Are you considering becoming a distributor or do you plan to advance within a company? Either way, you need to be ready. You will want to know how to make product line choices, hire a sales force, and lead others, among other things.

Engineering Your Way to a 510(k)
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted November 7, 2006)
FDA regulations, internal corporate policies, recommendations from the legal department—these and more must be taken into consideration when traveling the road to a 510(k). Peter Harris, senior project engineer with K2M Inc., is an expert on this strategic, methodical journey, and knows the pitfalls that can crop up along the way.

The Association of Residency Coordinators in Orthopaedic Surgery
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted October 17, 2006)
A resident shows up at the correct hospital, fully credentialed and mentally prepared for the challenge ahead. The Association of Residency Coordinators in Orthopaedic Surgery has likely had something to do with this. ARCOS, a growing professional entity, moves mountains to streamline the residency experience for students and administrators alike.

You’ve Built It, They Came, Now What? Corporate Exit Strategies
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted September 12, 2006)
Think an IPO is your panacea? Think again. In choosing the appropriate exit strategy for your company, there are numerous, vital things to consider. Things that may lead you in another direction.

The Spine Masters Institute: Five Acres, 36,000 Sq Ft Dedicated to Spine Education and Training
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted August 22, 2006)
Building the world's premier spine institute involves ingenuity, solid funding, and hard hats. Welcome to the surgeon’s newest destination for training in the art and science of spine surgery.

No Such Thing as a Know-It-All: The Value of Training to Sales Reps
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted August 14, 2006)
The memo comes across your desk. “Your presence at tomorrow’s training program is expected.” You put your hand to your forehead—yep, you’ve got a fever.

What Venture Capitalists Want (No, It’s Not Blood)
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted August 7, 2006)
First, you’ve got to get their attention. Then, you have to be dazzling enough to hold it. Click here to learn what financing expert Ron Yagoda says are the musts in dealing with venture capitalists.

Manager’s Corner: How Good Is Your Team
By Roy Fiebiger, Managing Partner, Sanford Rose Associates-Silicon Valley (posted July 27, 2006)
A common belief in the venture capital community is that a key factor in determining the success or failure of an early-stage company is the strength of its management team.
As an orthopedic company executive, chances are you have built or inherited a team. Hopefully, most days your team works pretty well. Perhaps you yourself are a part of a higher (executive) team. Perhaps your team members have their own teams in place. Looked at from this perspective, your company is a collection of overlapping teams—from the board of directors at the top, to the marketing department on down to the smallest group in your organization.

Growing a Company, Growing People: How to Develop Employees
By Elizabeth Hofheinz, M.Ed., M.P.H. (posted July 18, 2006)
Having a successful company means knowing how to motivate and encourage people. Click here to learn what management expert Lew Bennett has to say about how to work with employees and earn their respect and loyalty.

Financing a New Venture: The Least You Need to Know
By Elizabeth Hofheinz, M.Ed., M.P.H. (posted July 11, 2006)
Ok, time to shake that money tree. Where to go? Aunt Edna? Angels, the bank, venture capitalists? Hard to know where to begin and what to do when you find a friendly face. Entrepreneur Ron Yagoda has some very handy advice indeed. Click here for a new procedure—the wallet-ectomy.

Getting Your Name on the Contract: How to Land New Product Lines
By Elizabeth Hofheinz, M.Ed., M.P.H.
Sometimes, the other distributorship wins the contract. What do they know that you don’t? Click here to learn practical strategies for bringing home a new product line.

Adding a New Product Line: Are You Ready?
By Elizabeth Hofheinz, M.Ed., M.P.H.
While it is natural for a distributor to get excited about adding product lines, the willy-nilly, headfirst approach won’t work. Sales and distribution expert Joe Sansone recommends another, more logical, approach. Click here to get advice on how to assess your readiness for new lines.

Hiring Sales Reps: What Distributors Should Know
By Elizabeth Hofheinz, M.Ed., M.P.H.
Hiring is a process, not an event, says industry insider Lew Bennett. Learn how reviewing your existing sales force and utilizing solid interview techniques can guide you to make smarter hiring decisions. Click here to get Lew Bennett’s interviewing recommendations.

 

   

News Shorts
Complete Issue - PDF Past Issues

Scient'x Doubles 510(k) Clearance With DUO™ Dynamic Stabilization System
First there was one level...now there are two. Scient'x announced on May 6 that it had received FDA 510(k) clearance to market its new Isobar DUO™ Dynamic Stabilization System.

Alphatec Ponies Up $11 Million Settlement for ‘678 Patent
"Alphatec can now achieve some certainty." That's what Alphatec's President and CEO, Dirk Kuyper, told us at the SAS annual meeting in Miami Beach. He was referring to his company's announcement that its 2006 lawsuit with Biedermann and DePuy over the ‘678 pedicle screw patent is settled.

Abbott Spine’s Universal Clamp™ Now Available Stateside
The Universal Clamp™ spinal fixation system, developed by Abbott Spine, may now be enjoyed by Americans. The implant, which has been available in Europe for over a year, can be used to correct a wide variety of complex spinal pathologies including sagittal and coronal malalignment, as well as degenerative conditions of the thoracolumbar spine.

Facet Solutions, Inc. Completes Combination Facet Joint and Disc Replacement Study
It’s the motion in Miami…Facet Solutions, Inc. is announcing the successful completion of a scientific evaluation for a total joint reconstruction in the lumbar spine. The study evaluated the combination of Facet Solutions’ Anatomic Facet Replacement System (AFRS™) with a semi-constrained disc replacement device in a finite element model.

Biologic Bummer for Stryker in Beantown
Stryker's stock stopped trading for 16 minutes before resuming on Friday, May 2. The reason was because Stryker was about to announce that its Biotech division, in the Boston suburb of Hopkinton, had received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) related to quality systems and compliance issues.

MAKO’s Robot Zaps 1st Quarter Expectations
MAKO Surgical Corp. reported 2008 first quarter revenues of $500,000. Analysts had expected revenues of only $300,000. The company markets its Tactile Guidance System™ (TGS™), an advanced robotic-arm solution, and its implants for minimally invasive orthopedic knee procedures, known as MAKOplasty®.

Shake Up at Medtronic Sofamor Danek
We were frankly surprised as were many people both inside and outside the company to hear of Pete Wehrly’s sudden departure from Medtronic Sofamor Danek day before yesterday. Mr. Wehrly, 49, was the President of Medtronic Sofamor Danek and the abruptness of his departure followed by Medtronic’s extreme caution in commenting adds additional mystery to the circumstances of Pete’s leaving.

DePuy Puts 3 Million Sq. Ft. to Work in China
DePuy products have gone into production in Suzhou, China. Tradingmarkets.com reported on April 25 that Johnson & Johnson Medical (DePuy-Suzhou) Ltd. has started operations at its first Chinese facility to produce medical equipment in the Suzhou Industrial Park in eastern China.

Smith & Nephew Endoscopy Launches FOOTPRINT PK Suture
Just try to follow in their footsteps! Smith & Nephew's Endoscopy Division has announced the launch of the FOOTPRINT PK Suture Anchor, a system used to attach rotator cuff tissue to bone in the shoulder.

Put on Your Futuristic Headgear: Immersion Medical and GMV Sign Agreement for Reality Arthroscopy Simulation System
So much for skiddishness about minimally invasive surgery…Immersion Corporation, a touch feedback technology firm, and GMV, an engineering firm, have announced that Immersion Medical, a wholly owned subsidiary of Immersion, and GMV have signed an agreement whereby Immersion Medical will market and sell GMV's insightArthroVR® virtual reality arthroscopy surgical simulator in most countries around the world.

Zimmer Revenues On Target for First Quarter. Disappoints Investors
Zimmer reported first quarter 2008 revenues (constant currency) on April 24. Total Revenues: up 6.2% to $1.06 billion. The company also announced a $1.25 billion stock repurchasing program and reaffirmed earlier guidance for the year of 6%–7% revenue growth (in constant currency).

Physician Disciplinary Actions Decline 22% Since 2004
With the current hyper-vigilant focus on surgeon and industry relationships, it begs the question: Are disciplinary actions against physicians increasing or decreasing?

Frost & Sullivan Shines Light on Raymedica
Feelin’ hot, hot, hot! Frost & Sullivan has named Raymedica, LLC, as winner of the 2008 Frost & Sullivan Hot Investment Opportunity Award.

NuVasive Revenues Break Expectations, Lukianov Waives HIPAA
The NuVasive Chairman and CEO waived all his HIPAA rights during a first quarter 2008 conference call with analysts on April 22 when asked about his own back surgery. He said he's doing very well after his two-level XLIF® procedure, thank you very much.

Good News for Lower Extremities: Archus Completes First Human Implant of TFAS-C™ System
They’ve come to a conclusion: Some patients can be done with fusion. The reconstructive implant aficionados at Archus Orthopedics, Inc. have announced the successful completion of the first human implant of their TFAS-C™ system, the newest addition to the company's product line for treating spinal stenosis.

DePuy Launches Spine System for Small-Stature Patients
DePuy Spine has launched a titanium and stainless steel hook, rod and screw system designed to treat complex spinal deformities in small-stature patients.

BoundaryMedical Inc. Launches Orthopedic Outcome Measurement Software
BoundaryMedical, Inc. may be able to streamline things. It has just introduced the new Outcome Enterprise™ Study Manager platform for measuring outcomes relating to orthopedic treatments.

People in the News

Jack Maertens Joins Theken Family of Companies as VP of Marketing

Mike McCarthy Joins Board at Facet Solutions

Patrick O’Donnell Joins Medical Capital Advisors

St. Francis Founder Joins Active Implants’ Board

Upcoming Conferences

SpineWeek
May 26 - 31, 2008 – Geneva, Switzerland

CMSA's 18th Annual Conference & Expo
June 17 - 20, 2008 – Orlando, Florida

 

   

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