Weekly News, Analysis and Commentary
Scottsdale, AZ
Joined March 2011
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Top 10 studies this week:
#1 AI Predicted Distal Junctional Kyphosis Using Radiographs
orthotw.com/2026/10/ai-predi…
#2 Small Incisions, Big Standards: ASPN Says Prove You Can Do It
orthotw.com/2026/10/small-in…
#3 Birmingham Hip Resurfacing at 25 Years: The Case for Being Choosy
orthotw.com/2026/10/birmingh…
#4 Big-Toe Fusion: Is “Stay Off It” Still the Best Advice?
orthotw.com/2026/10/big-toe-…
#5 When the Tumor Is Gone, but the Rods Aren’t Out of the Woods
orthotw.com/2026/10/when-the…
#6 DAIR to Be Selective: Keeping the Implant Doesn’t Mean Keeping Every Part
orthotw.com/2026/10/dair-to-…
#7 Dual-Mobility Hips: More Stability, a Fracture Trade-Off?
orthotw.com/2026/10/dual-mob…
#8 EU Grants MDR Certification for Navient’s Innovative Surgical Navigation System
orthotw.com/2026/10/claronav…
#9 Novel, Modular Implant and Instrument System for Early Onset Scoliosis Surgery Launched
orthotw.com/2026/10/worldwid…
#10 Pacira and Molteni Farmaceutici Sign Exclusive Deal to Commercialize EXPAREL in the EU and UK
orthotw.com/2026/10/pacira-a…
Some of the hardest pain problems in orthopedics emerge after an otherwise successful operation. The implant is well positioned, the imaging looks right, and pain persists.
The three winners of this year’s Pain Management Technology Awards approach pain from different directions. One places a stimulation electrode through a needle. One gives surgeons a disposable kit for lumbar decompression. The winner targets peripheral nerves involved in pain around the knee, shoulder and elsewhere in the body.
Each year, Orthopedics This Week invites companies to submit technologies for review by physicians in the relevant subspecialty. This is the inaugural year for the pain management category, reflecting the growing overlap between pain interventions and orthopedic practice, particularly in persistent postsurgical pain. Judges scored each entry on six criteria:
- Innovation
- Long-term significance
- How well it solves a clinical problem
- Whether it improves on the standard of care
- Cost effectiveness
- Whether the judges would use it themselves
What is the most consequential new tool in spine surgery for 2026?
This year’s judges found three very different answers: a fusion implant that may one day report on healing, software that tackles the work surrounding an operation, and a navigation workflow that can dispense with radiation used for navigation imaging.
Each year, Orthopedics This Week invites brands to submit their best technologies for review by a panel of orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons. The judges look for creativity, staying power, a solution to a current problem, an improvement in care, cost effectiveness and one final test: Would they consider using it themselves?
The 2026 awards program drew many submissions but only three could be crowned.
David Langton, PhD, founder and chief scientific officer of ExplantLab, says nearly 20 years of retrieval and genetic research have led his group to a difficult question: Are many presumed joint infections actually severe reactions to metal?
He explains how genetic differences may shape responses to cobalt-chrome and revisits metal-on-metal hip cases treated with IV antibiotics despite showing no infection.
Watch the full OTW Masterclass: lnkd.in/gSqy57fW
Spine surgeons Hao-Hua Wu, MD, and Isador Lieberman, MD, describe two moments when metal artifact becomes more than an imaging nuisance: surveillance for tumor recurrence and the search for a postoperative pain generator.
In this clip, they explain why clearer MRI can move the workup forward when a patient returns with new symptoms.
Watch the full OTW Masterclass: orthotw.com/masterclasses/ca…
Ankit Mehta, MD, director of spinal oncology at UI Health, explains how carbon fiber implants can simplify SRS planning for primary and metastatic spine tumors.
In this clip, he discusses why reduced hardware interference can improve planning around the tumor and, in some cases, help patients avoid a lumbar puncture and CT myelogram before treatment.
Watch the full Masterclass: orthotw.com/masterclasses/ca…
Thomas Webster, PhD, past president of the Society for Biomaterials, traces an implant’s bacterial and bone response back to how its atoms bond.
By comparing ceramic silicon nitride, metal titanium and polymer PEEK, he explains how those different bonding mechanisms create very different surface environments for bacteria and bone.
Watch the full Masterclass: lnkd.in/gSqy57fW
Meduloc President and CEO Sarah Sachinis joins TJ Halvorson to discuss the company’s path from a surgeon-identified problem to FDA clearance and its initial commercial launch. Meduloc’s flexible nitinol implant is designed for small long-bone fractures, including metacarpal, forearm, clavicle, fibular and metatarsal fractures. Sachinis explains how the implant is inserted and locked, and how its design gives surgeons control over fracture rotation before final fixation.
The conversation also covers what Meduloc is learning from its first cases: early surgeon feedback, instrumentation changes, training and the challenge of earning adoption for a new device. Sachinis discusses the company’s partnership with Core Medical Ventures, its first commercial hire, plans to manage inventory while refining the product, and why the alpha launch is focused on a small number of markets. She also outlines the adoption milestones Meduloc is pursuing as it prepares to scale.
youtu.be/gtKQq0Tz17I
Top studies this week:
Two Weeks, Not Six? Giving the Repaired Syndesmosis a Head Start
orthotw.com/2026/10/two-week…
When the Spine Improves but the Mind Doesn’t
orthotw.com/2026/10/when-the…
Periprosthetic Hip Fractures: Does Beating the Clock Save Lives?
orthotw.com/2026/10/peripros…
Bacteria Prevalence on Surgical Gloves and Grafts
orthotw.com/2026/10/bacteria…
The Pec Comeback: An Achilles Allograft for Tears That Won’t Reach
orthotw.com/2026/10/the-pec-…
When Hormones Complicate the Healing Process After Lumbar Fusion
orthotw.com/2026/10/when-hor…
Novel Pediatric Lower Extremity Bracing System, “TractorFIX” Launched
orthotw.com/2026/10/orthoped…
New Technology Add-on Payment Approved for Very Interesting Radiolucent Metal Spine Constructs
orthotw.com/2026/10/icotec-r…
Thomas E. Oglesby New CFO for VB Spine
orthotw.com/2026/10/vb-spine…
OA Disease Modifying Drug Trial Launched
orthotw.com/2026/10/clinical…
James Bayley, MD, UPMC neurosurgeon specializing in spinal oncology, explains how carbon fiber implants can allow radiation oncologists to deliver a higher dose to the tumor closest to the spinal cord.
In this clip, he connects clearer visualization of the cord, dura and thecal sac with tighter margins around the gross tumor volume.
Watch the full Masterclass: orthotw.com/masterclasses/ca…
David Langton, PhD, founder and chief scientific officer of ExplantLab, shows why metal concentration alone cannot explain how a patient’s tissue will respond to implant debris.
His group quantified material loss from revised devices, correlated it with synovial-fluid and blood-metal levels, and compared those findings with the surrounding histology. One patient developed severe tissue destruction despite relatively low cobalt exposure. Another had 80 times more cobalt but a far less destructive response.
Langton contrasts an aggressive ALVAL pattern associated with delayed-type metal hypersensitivity against a predominantly macrophage-driven response, demonstrating how differently two patients can react to the same material.
In the full Masterclass, Thomas Webster, PhD (Brown) and John Edwards, MD (Summit Brain, Spine & Orthopedics) take the discussion from debris biology to the material science of silicon nitride: lnkd.in/gSqy57fW
Top 10 stories this week
OFIX’s $50+ Million Purge Bill Comes Due
bit.ly/4jygSgU
#2 Centinel Spine Files to Go Public on the NYSE
bit.ly/4hUERFM
#3 William Obremskey Takes Orthopaedic Trauma Association’s Helm
bit.ly/4BdgieV
#4 Two-Level Cervical Disc Arthroplasty Earns FDA Approval: Prodisc® C Nova
bit.ly/3VStfdS
#5 Bill Pfost New CEO at elliquence Spine
bit.ly/4ifwymT
#6 Zimmer Biomet and Think Surgical Expand Distribution Deal
bit.ly/4ixGKs0
#7 Novel 3D Porous Titanium Spine Fusion System Now FDA Cleared
bit.ly/4ihEd4e
#8 HealthpointCapital Invests in Ospitek, Surgical Operations and Patient Flow Software Systems Provider
bit.ly/4dSHQvT
#9 SurGenTec® and Allevion Medical Team up for Novel Vantage Spine System
bit.ly/4BhpdMh
#10 Shoulder Innovations Initiates Commercial Launch of the InSet® Go
bit.ly/4skHZ1k
ALT The image shows an article from "Orthopedics This Week" with the headline "OFIX's $50+ Million Purge Bill Comes Due." It discusses Orthofix's 2023 board of directors' lawsuit and mentions former CEO Keith Valentine, former CFO John Bostjancic, and former Chief Legal Officer Patrick Keran. Additionally, the article features comments from K. Nicholas, Kevin Kenny, and Catherine Burzik regarding the firings and potential market impact.
Thomas Webster, PhD, past president of the Society for Biomaterials, presents a 90-day preclinical study comparing silicon nitride, titanium and PEEK in an infected rat model.
The histology places two implant requirements on the same slide: resisting bacterial colonization while supporting bone growth. Webster reports 0% bacterial coverage and 41% bone coverage on silicon nitride. Titanium measured 67% and 9%; PEEK measured 95% and 5%.
The numbers are striking, but the slides make the contrast difficult to ignore: bacterial coverage spreads across PEEK and titanium while remaining absent from silicon nitride, and bone growth follows the opposite pattern.
Watch the full OTW Masterclass: lnkd.in/gSqy57fW
Make sure to stop by the Red Theater to hear Neil N. Patel, MD, MBA, FAAOS, discuss how interbody biomaterials are evolving from inert to therapeutic.
Dr. Patel, president and board chair of Spine Team Texas, will examine why implant material matters alongside lattice, pore, surface and footprint, including how materials can be engineered to influence the host response at the implant-tissue interface.
The DiFusion-sponsored session takes place Friday, October 16, from 12:30 to 12:50 p.m. DiFusion, the company behind ZFUZE®, will also be exhibiting at booth 1029.
Learn more: bit.ly/4jcNRHg
Add to calendar: bit.ly/4ydYWeT
ALT This is an event poster for NASS 2026 at Red Theater in San Antonio, Texas. It features Neil N. Patel, MD, a spine surgeon at Spine Team Texas. The presentation is titled "Evolution of Biomaterials: Inert to Therapeutic," scheduled for Friday, October 16, from 12:30 PM to 12:50 PM. The poster is sponsored by ZFUZE, Booth #1029.
Hao-Hua Wu, MD, a UCI Health orthopedic spine surgeon, believes surgeons can get through the learning curve for carbon fiber instrumentation within a single case. He goes on to discuss the role navigation can play and why patient-specific rod templating has his attention.
Visit CarboFix at NASS, booth #1214 or watch the recorded Masterclass here: orthotw.com/masterclasses/ca…
David Langton, PhD, founder and chief scientific officer of ExplantLab, challenges the assumption that clinically significant metal debris is primarily a metal-on-metal hip problem.
His retrieval analysis shows substantial wear at the interface between the polyethylene insert and the superior surface of the tibial tray. He reports pitting in approximately 60% of explanted knees, with simulator studies demonstrating that debris can develop even under controlled conditions.
Langton brings the discussion back to patients, pointing to the limited blood-ion data showing meaningful elevations in a significant proportion of knee arthroplasty recipients.
Watch the full OTW Masterclass:
lnkd.in/gSqy57fW
James C. Bayley, MD, a UPMC neurosurgeon specializing in spinal oncology, explains when carbon fiber belongs in spine tumor surgery and why the choice matters after the operation.
Using a metastatic renal cell carcinoma case, he walks through what reduced artifact means for SBRT planning, radiation delivery and postoperative surveillance.
The full session, with Drs. Lieberman, Wu, Bayley and Mehta, is now available to rewatch: orthotw.com/masterclasses/ca…
If you're at NASS, visit CarboFix at booth #1214.
If you’re going to NASS, make sure to stop by booth 1216 and visit NanoHive Medical.
NanoHive will be exhibiting its Hive™ Standalone ALIF and Hive™ O-AL Interbody System. The O-AL uses NanoHive’s Soft Titanium® lattice and is designed to facilitate an oblique anterior approach without direct lumbar plexus manipulation.
Learn more: nanohive.com
ALT NanoHive Medical advertisement featuring two medical devices, the Hive™ Standalone ALIF with a screw and Hive™ O-AL Interbody. The text highlights the booth number 1216 at the NASS 2026 event in San Antonio, occurring from October 14 to 17.
ALT A NanoHive Medical advertisement for the HIVE™ O-AL Interbody System, highlighting titanium's modulus comparable to PEEK. Features include: 1) Reduced implant stiffness, similar to PEEK, with improved bone strength. 2) Enhanced visualization with low-density lattices. 3) Designed for oblique approach in surgical procedures. Located at booth 1216.
Top studies this week:
New Study Documents 80% Chronic Pain Reduction From Baseline Using Peripheral Nerve Stim
orthotw.com/2026/09/curonix-…
PJI Revision: The Half-Stage Has a Full-Sized Trade-Off
orthotw.com/2026/09/pji-revi…
Spine’s Robot Revolution: Big Momentum, Expanding Footprint
orthotw.com/2026/09/spine-s-…
Malalignment Does Not Always Equate to Poor Outcomes
orthotw.com/2026/09/malalign…
Forget BMI: The Better Measure is Fat vs Muscle
orthotw.com/2026/09/forget-b…
It’s Not Just What You Lift – It’s What You Do While You Lift It
orthotw.com/2026/09/it-s-not…
Sacral Fractures: A Survival Signal That Deserves a Second Look
orthotw.com/2026/09/sacral-f…
When More Expensive Doesn’t Mean Better: The ACDF Markup Mystery
orthotw.com/2026/10/when-mor…
Phase 4 Study Finds That TREMFYA Cuts Spine Pain and Inflammation
orthotw.com/2026/09/johnson-…
New Study Finds AR NAV System Is 2-5x More Accurate Than Legacy NAV
orthotw.com/2026/09/journal-…
ALT Orthopedics This Week article titled "New Study Documents 80% Chronic Pain Reduction From Baseline Using Peripheral Nerve Stimulation." The text describes a study funded by the Freedom® Peripheral Nerve Stimulator (PNS) System, involving 953 patients. It outlines various outcomes related to clinical reductions and healthcare utilization. There is a "Continue reading on orthotw.com" link at the bottom.
Now available for rewatch: Masterclass on carbon fiber fixation in spine surgery.
In this opening clip, Isador Lieberman, MD, previews the panel’s discussion of patient selection, surgical workflow, economics and implant selection.
Watch the full session with Drs. Lieberman, Bayley, Mehta and Wu:
orthotw.com/masterclasses/ca…