Here are five augmented reality spine surgery milestones since Aug. 22:

Prior authorization can be a long process for physicians and patients, resulting in time delays, increased paperwork and disrupted patient care. 

Advanced Surgery Center of Beverly Hills (Calif.) and Ortho San Antonio have completed the first clinical trials using 3Spine's new Motus device for lumbar total joint replacements.

Two spinal surgeons, Mitchell Reiter, MD, and Mark Drzala, MD, have developed the first wearable metal allergy testing device. 

Chris Hill, DO, completed his 50th case using Augmedics' Xvision augmented reality spine system, the medtech company said in a March 21 tweet.

Hamid Abbasi, MD, PhD, chief medical officer of Inspired Spine, is planning another trip outside the U.S. to teach the oblique lateral lumbar interbody fusion procedure.

Michael Gallizzi, MD, is the first spine surgeon in the Colorado Rockies region to incorporate three major endoscopic spine techniques in his practice.

Aetna's total disc replacement settlement could be on thin ice, according to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health has opened a new spine clinic in Mount Airy, N.C., according to a March 17 report from The Mount Airy News.

IMAC Holdings is merging with Brain Scientific.

Spine surgeon Paul Canale, MD, is retiring from Daphne, Ala.-based Baldwin Bone & Joint.

Neurosurgeon Vanessa Milano, MD, joined Hackensack (N.J.) Meridian JFK University Medical Center's Neuroscience Institute.

Spine surgeons often spend time volunteering within their communities to provide medical care and for other causes. Five spine surgeons told Becker's how they serve others outside of work.

The San Francisco Giants' Luis González had surgery to repair a disc in his lower back, The Mercury News reported March 14.

As spine procedure volumes grew in the last 20 years, reimbursements have dipped, researchers found in an analysis.

South Lake Tahoe, Calif.-based Barton Health has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval in spine surgery and knee and hip joint replacement, according to a March 11 report from SouthTahoeNow.

From the first augmented reality surgery in Richmond, Va., to a surgery using a 3D-printed custom implant, here are five spine surgery milestones Becker's has reported on since March 1:

Sherwin Hua, MD, a spine surgeon at Stevenson Surgery Center in Fremont, Calif., has performed the first case in the U.S. using Taiwan Main Orthopedic Biotechnology's Caduceus S augmented reality spine navigation system. 

Anup Gangavalli, MD, of OrthoVirginia, completed the first augmented reality spine surgery in Richmond, Va., the North Chesterfield-based practice said in a March 8 LinkedIn post.

The NeuroSpinal Institute of Broward (Fla.) has moved into an expanded, 5,011-square-foot medical office space, upsizing from its previous 2,000-square-foot location, according to a March 9 report from the South Florida Business Journal.