Up to hundreds of billions of dollars are annually lost to fraud and abuse in the US health care, making it a significant burden on the system. This study investigates a specific instance of health care fraud in spine surgery, in which a medical device company ended up paying $75 million to settle violations of the False Claims Act. We review the surgical background regarding the kyphoplasty procedure, as well as its billing and reimbursement details. We also explore the official legal complaint brought by the US Department of Justice to tell the story of how one of the most significant medical innovations in spine surgery in the 21st century turned into a widespread fraudulent marketing scheme. In the sequence, we provide a detailed root cause analysis of this scandal and propose some proactive measures that can be taken to avoid such type of unfortunate events. Ultimately, this historical health care scandal constitutes a valuable lesson to surgeons, health care administrators, medical device companies, and policymakers on how misaligned incentives and subsequent unscrupulous practices can transform a medical innovation into an unfortunate tale of fraud and deceit.

Spontaneous pneumothorax is one of the most common conditions encountered in thoracic surgery. This condition can be treated conservatively or surgically based on indications and guidelines. Traditional surgical management includes pleurodesis (mechanical or chemical) in addition to bullectomy if the bullae can be identified. Mechanical pleurodesis is usually performed by surgical pleurectomy or pleural abrasion. In this case report, we present a case of a young patient with spontaneous pneumothorax who needed a surgical intervention. We performed a new, innovative surgical technique for surgical pleurectomy where we used carbon dioxide for dissection of the parietal pleura (capnodissection). This technique may provide similar efficiency to the traditional procedure but with less risk of bleeding and complications.

Sir William Macewen, a Scottish surgeon, made significant contributions to neurosurgery, beginning with his successful brain tumor resection in 1879. Born in 1848, Macewen\'s upbringing in a maritime family fostered a practical approach to learning. Macewen\'s pivotal brain tumor surgery demonstrated his adherence to antiseptic practices and precise localization techniques. Controversy arose regarding his precedence in neurosurgery, which he addressed through meticulous documentation and public presentations. His diagnostic prowess extended to cases of cerebral abscesses and intracranial conditions, relying on clinical observations rather than imaging technology. His 1893 monograph on brain infections remains influential in neurosurgery. Beyond neurosurgery, Macewen was innovative in asepsis, hernia repair, and bone surgery. His legacy as a clinical educator and advocate for surgical advancements earned him widespread recognition. This historical review aimed to explore and evaluate the published literature regarding Macewen\'s early brain tumor surgeries, seeking to establish his precedence over later surgeons including Godlee and Bennett.

BACKGROUND: Proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPj) fractures are a common yet challenging injury, particularly in athletes. This case study explores innovative surgical techniques combined with targeted rehabilitation to optimize recovery and functionality.
METHODS: A 20-year-old male soccer goalkeeper sustained a severe Proximal Interphalangeal Joint fracture-dislocation of the third finger during a game. He was treated using the wide awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique and a Medartis TriLock plate, originally designed for the proximal phalanx but adapted for use on the middle phalanx.
UNASSIGNED: Immediate postoperative mobilization was facilitated by the WALANT technique, enhancing pain management and functional recovery. The adaptation of the TriLock plate, typically not used in this context, proved crucial for stabilizing the complex fracture. Follow-up included regular physiotherapy, focusing on mobility exercises and strength training, which were instrumental in the patient\'s quick return to sport.
CONCLUSIONS: This case underscores the effectiveness of combining innovative surgical adaptations with early rehabilitation in treating complex hand injuries. Such approaches can lead to successful outcomes, significantly improving recovery times and functional results in athletic populations. This strategy may set a precedent for future treatment protocols in sports-related hand injuries.

Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is the standard of care for T1 renal tumors and nowadays being used for T2 or higher tumors, resulting in higher the conversion rates. To bridge this gap, the hand-assisted laparoscopy (HAL) method was introduced. Even now, in the robotic era, this HAL approach continues to find importance in urology, especially in the most challenging cases, albeit, with a relatively low usage rate due to the cost involved and availability of hand port devices. Here, we report a case series using a novel modification of the HAL nephrectomy (HALN) technique when open conversion is needed. From a prospective database, we retrospectively analyzed the data of Six patients who underwent HALN at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences between January 2019 and December 2022. Indications for surgery included both malignant and benign renal disease. Four surgeries were performed on the right side while two were performed on the left. Five patients underwent a HALN for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and 1 for a benign non-functioning kidney. In our series, all the cases with RCC had were T2a or higher. Our case series shows that HALN is technically safe, effective, and a great adjunct to conventional laparoscopy. The ingenious use of a surgical glove as a hand port is an easy-to-make-and- use device in such challenging surgeries.

The field of surgery faces complex, systemic challenges that will require new academic frameworks. In this paper, we propose design thinking as a useful problem-solving technique to apply to such challenges. We define design thinking and provide a brief history of this practice. Finally, we offer suggestions to introduce design thinking to surgical trainees, drawing from the experience of innovation programs that have incorporated this technique.

BACKGROUND: Robotic technology is an important tool in surgical innovation, with robots increasingly being used in the clinical setting. Robots can be used to enhance accuracy, perform remote actions, or to automate tasks. One such surgical task is suturing, a repetitive, fundamental component of surgery that can be tedious and time consuming. Suturing is a promising automation target because of its ubiquity, repetitive nature, and defined constraints. This systematic review examines research to date on autonomous suturing.
METHODS: A systematic review of the literature focused on autonomous suturing was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.
RESULTS: 6850 articles were identified by searching PubMed, Embase, Compendex, and Inspec. Duplicates and non-English articles were removed. 4389 articles were screened and 4305 were excluded. Of the 84 remaining, 43 articles did not meet criteria, leaving 41 articles for final review. Among these, 34 (81%) were published after 2014. 31 (76%) were published in an engineering journal9 in a robotics journal, and 1 in a medical journal. The great majority of articles (33, 80%) did not have a specific clinical specialty focus, whereas 6 (15%) were focused on applications in MIS/laparoscopic surgery and 2 (5%) on applications in ophthalmology. Several suturing subtasks were identified, including knot tying, suture passing/needle insertion, needle passing, needle and suture grasping, needle tracking/kinesthesia, suture thread detection, suture needle shape production, instrument assignment, and suture accuracy. 14 articles were considered multi-component because they referred to several previously mentioned subtasks.
CONCLUSIONS: In this systematic review exploring research to date on autonomous suturing, 41 articles demonstrated significant progress in robotic suturing. This summary revealed significant heterogeneity of work, with authors focused on different aspects of suturing and a multitude of engineering problems. The review demonstrates increasing academic and commercial interest in surgical automation, with significant technological advances toward feasibility.

Robotic innovations in breast surgery have ushered in a new era of precision, safety, and patient-centred care. This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted realm of robotic breast surgery, from preoperative planning to postoperative outcomes, learning curves for surgeons, and the implications for healthcare policies. We examine the ethical considerations, cost-effectiveness, and future directions, including integrating artificial intelligence and telesurgery. Key findings reveal that robotic systems provide improved surgical precision, reduced complications, and enhanced patient satisfaction. Ethical concerns encompass informed consent, resource allocation, and equitable access. The future of breast surgery lies in continued research and development, ensuring that robotics becomes a standard of care accessible to all patients. This technology is reshaping breast surgery and offering new possibilities for minimally invasive, patient-centred care, ultimately redefining the standards of care in this critical field of medicine.

As innovations in the field of vascular composite allotransplantation (VCA) progress, whole-eye transplantation (WET) is poised to transition from non-human mammalian models to living human recipients. Present treatment options for vision loss are generally considered suboptimal, and attendant concerns ranging from aesthetics and prosthesis maintenance to social stigma may be mitigated by WET. Potential benefits to WET recipients may also include partial vision restoration, psychosocial benefits related to identity and social integration, improvements in physical comfort and function, and reduced surgical risk associated with a biologic eye compared to a prosthesis. Perioperative and postoperative risks of WET are expected to be comparable to those of facial transplantation (FT), and may be similarly mitigated by immunosuppressive protocols, adequate psychosocial support, and a thorough selection process for both the recipient and donor. To minimize the risks associated with immunosuppressive medications, the first attempts in human recipients will likely be performed in conjunction with a FT. If first-in-human attempts at combined FT-WET prove successful and the biologic eye survives, this opens the door for further advancement in the field of vision restoration by means of a viable surgical option. This analysis integrates recent innovations in WET research with the existing discourse on the ethics of surgical innovation and offers preliminary guidance to VCA programs considering undertaking WET in human recipients.

UNASSIGNED: Spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are common, and their management is heterogeneous. For high-flow leaks, numerous studies advocate for primary dural repair and CSF diversion. The LiquoGuard7® allows automated and precise pressure and volume control, and calculation of patient-specific CSF production rate (prCSF), which is hypothesized to be increased in the context of durotomies and CSF leaks.
UNASSIGNED: This single-centre illustrative case series included patients undergoing complex spinal surgery where: 1) a high flow intra-operative and/or post-operative CSF leak was expected and 2) lumbar CSF drainage was performed using a LiquoGuard7®. CSF diversion was tailored to prCSF for each patient, combined with layered spinal wound closure.
UNASSIGNED: Three patients were included, with a variety of pathologies: T7/T8 disc prolapse, T8-T9 meningioma, and T4-T5 metastatic spinal cord compression. The first two patients underwent CSF diversion to prevent post-op CSF leak, whilst the third required this in response to post-op CSF leak. CSF hyperproduction was evident in all cases (mean >/=140ml/hr). With patient-specific CSF diversion regimes, no cases required further intervention for CSF fistulae repair (including for pleural CSF effusion), wound breakdown or infection.
UNASSIGNED: Patient-specific cerebrospinal fluid drainage may be a useful tool in the management of high-flow intra-operative and post-operative CSF leaks during complex spinal surgery. These systems may reduce post-operative CSF leakage from the wound or into adjacent body cavities. Further larger studies are needed to evaluate the comparative benefits and cost-effectiveness of this approach.