Comments on: Doctors Accused Of Kickbacks By Whistleblower http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/doctors-accused-of-kickbacks-by-whistleblower/ News, Comment and Conversation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:48:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: INDAKNOW http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/doctors-accused-of-kickbacks-by-whistleblower/#comment-385365 INDAKNOW Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:35:19 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14891#comment-385365 What type of tumor ? Most likely not. Infuse as I have seen since its introduction has performed well (most of the time 90 + % ) in the Lumbar spine. Most likely no correlation to use of Infuse. Look to the surgeon (or one of them early on) for having to operate 4 x in a year for the issues. Breakage a few weeks out ?? Did the rod break or the screw/construct ? It is highly unlikely that a rod would break after a few weeks. The rod would have to cycle more times than possible in that time period in the absence of trauma. I have seen thousands go in and a few break. With the acceptation of PEEK (plastic) or Agile (off the market). Those are garbage. What type of tumor ?

Most likely not.
Infuse as I have seen since its introduction has performed well (most of the time 90 + % ) in the Lumbar spine.

Most likely no correlation to use of Infuse.

Look to the surgeon (or one of them early on) for having to operate 4 x in a year for the issues.

Breakage a few weeks out ??
Did the rod break or the screw/construct ?

It is highly unlikely that a rod would break after a few weeks.
The rod would have to cycle more times than possible in that time period in the absence of trauma. I have seen thousands go in and a few break.
With the acceptation of PEEK (plastic) or Agile (off the market).
Those are garbage.

]]> By: Rod Break http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/doctors-accused-of-kickbacks-by-whistleblower/#comment-385251 Rod Break Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:52:09 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14891#comment-385251 Would anyone kindly offer an informed opinion as to wether Medtronics Infuse Bone Graft "off label" use in the lumbar spine (meaning surgical approach from the back not front) after 4 procedures in a year may cause an intradural spine tumor? Also coincidentally, 2 Medtronics fusion rods broke after only a few weeks post op..no trauma whatsoever.. I am the relative one referred to who might be ruined for life if there is a correlation.. Would anyone kindly offer an informed opinion as to wether Medtronics Infuse Bone Graft “off label” use in the lumbar spine (meaning surgical approach from the back not front) after 4 procedures in a year may cause an intradural spine tumor?

Also coincidentally, 2 Medtronics fusion rods broke after only a few weeks post op..no trauma whatsoever..

I am the relative one referred to who might be ruined for life if there is a correlation..

]]> By: Linda http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/doctors-accused-of-kickbacks-by-whistleblower/#comment-383979 Linda Mon, 08 Dec 2008 02:19:22 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14891#comment-383979 I had PEEK implants from medtronics. How do I find out if my surgeon is one that was given perks to push these devices? Any ideas? I had PEEK implants from medtronics. How do I find out if my surgeon is one that was given perks to push these devices? Any ideas?

]]> By: ExSpine rep http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/doctors-accused-of-kickbacks-by-whistleblower/#comment-371652 ExSpine rep Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:11:59 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14891#comment-371652 Spine rep says:"As far as Infuse, it does not leak out of the collagen sponge into the surrounding tissue if it is properly prepared. READ THE DIRECTIONS." Gee, I must have been halucinating when I saw infuse dripping from the sponge on the back table. Guess the collagen material is the ShamWow for spine and behaves much different than tall other collagen sponge materials on the planet. Yah, a sponge would probably never let the liquid leak out into the canal if you put it in the body. What a fool I must be to think that could happen. Spine rep says:”As far as Infuse, it does not leak out of the collagen sponge into the surrounding tissue if it is properly prepared. READ THE DIRECTIONS.”
Gee, I must have been halucinating when I saw infuse dripping from the sponge on the back table.
Guess the collagen material is the ShamWow for spine and behaves much different than tall other collagen sponge materials on the planet.
Yah, a sponge would probably never let the liquid leak out into the canal if you put it in the body.
What a fool I must be to think that could happen.

]]> By: INDA KNOW http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/doctors-accused-of-kickbacks-by-whistleblower/#comment-371316 INDA KNOW Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:11:55 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14891#comment-371316 Infuse Info : http://badmedicaldevicesblog.com/2008/09/04/medtronic-infuse-bone-graft-linked-to-life-threatening-complications/ Front page in link above has info removed. Infuse Info :

http://badmedicaldevicesblog.com/2008/09/04/medtronic-infuse-bone-graft-linked-to-life-threatening-complications/

Front page in link above has info removed.

]]> By: Justice in Michigan http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/doctors-accused-of-kickbacks-by-whistleblower/#comment-371309 Justice in Michigan Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:46:30 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14891#comment-371309 Inda Know - Just want to thank you for your informative, detailed posts. You obviously have been there. Your info is greatly appreciated. Inda Know - Just want to thank you for your informative, detailed posts. You obviously have been there. Your info is greatly appreciated.

]]> By: INDA KNOW http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/doctors-accused-of-kickbacks-by-whistleblower/#comment-371302 INDA KNOW Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:01:34 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14891#comment-371302 SPINE REP, Are you saying that a 3.6 titanium rod is OK to use in the lumbar spine ? Say... Like Vertex Max ( posterior cervical/thoracic application only ? And, did that show great fusion rates in the Lumbar spine ? The answer is NO. No one would ever do that. How can you compare your 'great fusion rates " with 3.6 rods and PEEK rods ? They are not ever used in the same area of the spine. The Lumbar spine is subject to massive loads in many directions. If thats your contention you need to travel back for another 3 weeks training in Memphis. It is ludicrous to think a 3.6 rod Ti would not break. Sure I know PEEK NEVER breaks. It does flex. Down onto the graft and.... OOPS ! It goes up too. Therefor can interfere with Wolfs law and actually unload the graft. 5.5 Titanium screws with a properly sized graft has decades of proof to promote fusion. Just compress the graft in the normal fashion and you are done. No need for $8,000 worth of special screws. The resulting unchecked flexion and extension of the vertebral bodies can do the Exact opposite to aid in fusion. Right ? Motion is the enemy of arthrodesis ( fusion ). Agile absolutely was sold for after reports came in. There may have been significant lack of response and spin put on this... As for Infuse... Lookie here-- http://online.wsj.com/public/page/2_1566.html Medtronic Spine makes the front page. READ THE ARTICLE Why wouldn’t a company educate surgeons on their products and provide a safe environment for them to train? SPINE REP,

Are you saying that a 3.6 titanium rod is OK to use in the lumbar spine ?
Say… Like Vertex Max ( posterior cervical/thoracic application only ?

And, did that show great fusion rates in the Lumbar spine ?

The answer is NO. No one would ever do that.

How can you compare your ‘great fusion rates ” with 3.6 rods and PEEK rods ? They are not ever used in the same area of the spine. The Lumbar spine is subject to massive loads in many directions.

If thats your contention you need to travel back for another 3 weeks training in Memphis.

It is ludicrous to think a 3.6 rod Ti would not break. Sure I know PEEK NEVER breaks. It does flex. Down onto the graft and…. OOPS ! It goes up too. Therefor can interfere with Wolfs law and actually unload the graft.
5.5 Titanium screws with a properly sized graft has decades of proof to promote fusion. Just compress the graft in the normal fashion and you are done. No need for $8,000 worth of special screws.

The resulting unchecked flexion and extension of the vertebral bodies can do the Exact opposite to aid in fusion. Right ? Motion is the enemy of arthrodesis ( fusion ).

Agile absolutely was sold for after reports came in. There may have been significant lack of response and spin put on this…

As for Infuse…
Lookie here– http://online.wsj.com/public/page/2_1566.html

Medtronic Spine makes the front page. READ THE ARTICLE
Why wouldn’t a company educate surgeons on their products and provide a safe environment for them to train?

]]> By: Spine Rep http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/doctors-accused-of-kickbacks-by-whistleblower/#comment-371063 Spine Rep Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:04:35 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14891#comment-371063 Peek rods where designed to not stress shield the interbody graft and let Wolff's law take place. The design is based of our 3.6mm dia. Ti rod which showed great fusion rates pre Infuse. The construct is designed to have the 80% anterior/20% posterior axial load of a normal spine. Just because a list price is set high doesn't mean that is what it is sold for. They did not keep selling Agile once the reports came in that there was a problem. As far as Infuse, it does not leak out of the collagen sponge into the surrounding tissue if it is properly prepared. READ THE DIRECTIONS. Why wouldn't a company educate surgeons on their products and provide a safe environment for them to train? Like I said before, it is up to everyone to step up to the plate and make sure the most important factor is taking care of first..THE PATIENTS. Peek rods where designed to not stress shield the interbody graft and let Wolff’s law take place. The design is based of our 3.6mm dia. Ti rod which showed great fusion rates pre Infuse. The construct is designed to have the 80% anterior/20% posterior axial load of a normal spine. Just because a list price is set high doesn’t mean that is what it is sold for.

They did not keep selling Agile once the reports came in that there was a problem.

As far as Infuse, it does not leak out of the collagen sponge into the surrounding tissue if it is properly prepared. READ THE DIRECTIONS.

Why wouldn’t a company educate surgeons on their products and provide a safe environment for them to train?

Like I said before, it is up to everyone to step up to the plate and make sure the most important factor is taking care of first..THE PATIENTS.

]]> By: ExSpine rep http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/doctors-accused-of-kickbacks-by-whistleblower/#comment-370296 ExSpine rep Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:17:33 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14891#comment-370296 "what are the Dr’s paying hospital adm" good point, I always forget that there is often more than meets the eye. The hospitals that cry the blues about how much money their not-for-profit hospital is losing, then they spend many millions of $ building huge new facilities and fancy renovations. They seem to have huge "profits" that get pumped back into pet projects. How do they do their accounting? Anybody know ? Like, do they pay $100, bill ins/medicare $700, collect $400 and say its a loss of $300 or a break even when duh, they made a $300 profit or 300% cash on cash return?? There is a pretty dark side to US healthcare systems in general. “what are the Dr’s paying hospital adm” good point, I always forget that there is often more than meets the eye. The hospitals that cry the blues about how much money their not-for-profit hospital is losing, then they spend many millions of $ building huge new facilities and fancy renovations. They seem to have huge “profits” that get pumped back into pet projects.
How do they do their accounting? Anybody know ? Like, do they pay $100, bill ins/medicare $700, collect $400 and say its a loss of $300 or a break even when duh, they made a $300 profit or 300% cash on cash return?? There is a pretty dark side to US healthcare systems in general.

]]> By: LOL http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/doctors-accused-of-kickbacks-by-whistleblower/#comment-369834 LOL Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:21:29 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=14891#comment-369834 Whitness unhappy rep,what are the Dr's paying hospital adm....get over it , this seems personal Whitness

unhappy rep,what are the Dr’s paying hospital adm….get over it , this seems personal

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