-Sukanya Rao As more spine procedures move to the outpatient setting, selecting the right patient becomes increasingly important. The challenge is not simply whether a procedure can be performed outpatient, but whether an individual patient is likely to recover without an unexpected complication, prolonged stay, or readmission. Outpatient candidacy depends on multiple clinical factors considered together. Could machine learning help surgeons translate those variables into a more...

-Sukanya Rao We focus on discs, nerves, bone, and alignment but what happens to the muscle that stabilizes the spine? Spine surgery is often planned around clearly defined pathology: neural compression, disc degeneration, instability, deformity, and bony anatomy. Yet posterior lumbar surgery also involves another important component of the functional spine the paraspinal musculature. Among these muscles, the multifidus plays an important role in segmental stabilization and control of lumbar...

-Sukanya Rao As robotics and artificial intelligence reshape spine surgery, a fundamental question is emerging: Does greater technological sophistication necessarily translate into better patient care? What happens when a multimillion-dollar surgical technology fails to outperform an established technique? That question is becoming increasingly relevant as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and computer-assisted navigation transform spine surgery. While these technologies promise...