Surgery/Specialties Lumbar fusion has grown rapidly, skyrocketing by more than 250% in the past 20 years. Costs have risen even faster, by more than 500% in Medicare patients alone, according to a recent study from Dartmouth. Lumbar fusion accounts for almost 50% of all back surgery performed in the US. Now…
Patients having hip replacement surgery can in rare cases develop bone cement implantation syndrome (BCIS). In 5 out of 6 reports of the syndrome received by the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority the patient died from cardiac arrest associated with the implantation of the new prosthesis. Though use of cement for…
