In This Issue

Roberto Acosta-Gomez, MD Dustin Anderson, MD Akhil Chhatre, MD Chad Craig, MD Olumide A. Danisa, MD Edward Dohring, MD Brody Fitzpatrick, MD Jonathan N. Grauer, MD Manish K. Kasliwal, MD Niranjan U. Kavadi, MBBS Noojan Kazemi, MD Matthew Lindsey, MD Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski, MD Philip Louie, MD Mohammed Macki, MD Vivek Mohan, MD, MS Ripul R. Panchal, DO, FACS Ayesha Quddusi, MD Christopher P. Silveri, MD Miles L. Singer, DO Anuj Singla, MD Junho Song, MD Assem Sultan, MD F. Todd Wetzel, MD

Founding Editor in Chief Stuart M. Weinstein, MD, 2000-2006

Past Editors in Chief Eeric Truumees, MD, 2006-2012 Thomas Mroz, MD, 2012-2013 William J. Sullivan, MD, 2013-2018 Jonathan N. Grauer, MD, 2019-2020 F. Todd Wetzel, MD, 2020-2025

Editorial Staff Kelly Campbell, MS, Director of Publications Jeff Karzen, Assistant Director, Publications Jessica Vander Naald, Graphic Designer

Purpose SpineLineTM, a peer-reviewed publication of the North American Spine Society, is published bimonthly to educate and inform NASS members on medical, ethical and policy matters in the field of spine and health care. SpineLine serves as the primary publication for the NASS membership: (1) to educate and inform NASS’ multidisciplinary members on issues of interest and relevance to spine care and research, and assist them in providing quality, cost-effective patient care; and (2) to communicate and promote the policies, professional activities and products of the association.

Statements or opinions expressed in SpineLine are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent positions of the North American Spine Society.

Disclosure Policy

In compliance with the NASS uniform disclosure policy (available at https://www.spine.org/Portals/0/Assets/Downloads/WhoWeAre/DisclosurePolicy.pdf), SpineLine authors are asked to disclose all financial arrangements. An indicator code (see key at right) reflecting that disclosure (including the supporting company or institution) will appear at the end of each article. Direct or indirect remuneration: Royalties, Stock ownership, Private Investments, Consulting, Speaking and/or teaching arrangements, Trips/travel

Position held in a company: Board of Directors, Scientific Advisory Board, Other office

Support from sponsors: Endowments, Research support, Grants, Fellowship support

Other: Relationships outside the one-year requirement Levels of support: A: $100 to $1000 B: $1,001 to $10,000 C: $10,001 to $25,000 D: $25,001 to $50,000 E: $50,001 to $100,000 F: $100,001 to $500,000 G: $500,001 to $1M H: $1,000,001 to $2.5M I: Greater than $2.5M

Editorial Offices SpineLineTM is published six times a year by the North American Spine Society, 150 Harvester Dr., Suite 111, Burr Ridge, Illinois 60527

Email: jason.friedrich@cuanschutz.edu

jkarzen@spine.org spineline@spine.org

Telephone: 630-230-3600 Toll-free: 866-960-NASS (6277) NASS Website: www.spine.org

Subscriptions NASS Members receive SpineLineTM as a benefit of membership. Nonmembers may subscribe for $100/year. Please call 630-230-3600 or email spineline@spine.org.

Advertising For rates and availability, please contact Rick Bacon by email at rbacon@spine.org.

NASS Board of Directors

William Mitchell, MD President Christopher P. Kauffman, MD First Vice President Alan S. Hilibrand, MD Second Vice President Patrick C. Hsieh, MD, MS, MBA Secretary D.J. Kennedy, MD Treasurer Eric J. Muehlbauer, MJ, CAE Executive Director & CEO Richard L. Skolasky, ScD Administration & Developent Council Director Andrew Schoenfeld, MD Education Council Director Steven W. Hwang, MD Evidence Analysis & Research Council Director Karin R. Swartz, MD Health Policy & Advocacy Council Director Michael G. Fehlings, MD, PhD, FRCSC Strategic Growth Council Director Sandeep Gidvani, MD Appointed Member Byron J. Schneider, MD Appointed Member Roger Härtl, MD At-Large Member Noam Stadlan, MD Committee on Ethics & Professionalism Liaison Michael Y. Wang, MD Industry Relations Liaison