RIP vertiflex

[soxman]

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Looks like Boston withdrew vertiflex from the market today . I think the problem was some of the drivers were handled pretty rough at times and a piece would break off. Some of these patients had MRIs and potentially might have developed a burn. Way too much work for the company to go track this down and do a whole recall and introduce a new product that's not reimbursing them as much.

 

[jsaul]

I trained on this many years ago. Did only 2 of them. Have seen many patients get these surgically removed by spine surgeons

 

[BobBarker]

It is a sad day for me. The device worked well for me and my patients. Some of my most satisfied patients were my vertilflex patients at my hospital job. I didn’t have any major issues ever with the device. Probably have broken less than two disposable drivers and less than 5 implants. You just irrigate and suck out the metal remnants.

 

[soxman]

It is a sad day for me. The device worked well for me and my patients. Some of my most satisfied patients were my vertilflex patients at my hospital job. I didn’t have any major issues ever with the device. Probably have broken less than two disposable drivers and less than 5 implants. You just irrigate and suck out the metal remnants.

Same here. I did quite a few and mostly had really good results.

 

[MitchLevi]

No kidding, I’m going to a conference in two weeks and was gonna meet up with the rep and start offering this myself.

 

[Agast]

I’ve seen a few who had it done 5 years ago and were still doing well. But I thought the biggest issue was Boston Scientific dropped the ball on maintaining insurance coverage so only primary Medicare patients could have it done. Enter Minuteman who gets to use fusion codes and stick a fork in it, you’re done

 

[Status Sciaticus]

Solid return on investment for Boston's $500 million buyout of Vertiflex

 

[mdo1738]

Sorry to see this. Only did about 20 but most had very good results.

 

[snap660]

Will the device be bought out by a different company or is it gone indefinitely?

 

[soxman]

Will the device be bought out by a different company or is it gone indefinitely?

I don't think it may come back again. Reimbursement is not enough for other companies to adopt something similar unless if an arthrodesis code is attached to it . I did hear they may be trying to introduce a new SI fusion and a possible MILD alternate to compete

 

[BobBarker]

When they bought the Vertiflex company there was a shelved product called Totalis included which is similar to mild.

 

[BobBarker]

ASP for vertiflex was around $7500. It is enough to matter for any company. Pro fee terrible, but it was a very good to excellent case for the facility.

 

[22yis]

Spoke to boston reps today, pulled for safety issue with the hardware, they are planning to retool it but they said frankly this will either be a very long process or never return at all. Will you guys reach for minuteman now instead?

 

[NJPAIN]

I am also sad to see it go. I did about 50 back in NJ with very good results for the most part. Only 2 done since moving to Midwest because of heavy infiltration of Medicare advantage plans here. Both had great outcomes. In my hands, much much more effective than MILD.

 

[Gnarvin]

Spoke to boston reps today, pulled for safety issue with the hardware, they are planning to retool it but they said frankly this will either be a very long process or never return at all. Will you guys reach for minuteman now instead?

Minuteman is a much different device and procedure, in reality. It is a more invasive procedure that is overall higher risk (I have heard varying things about a physician accidentally getting too deep with the kwire and spearing a kidney and/or a case of someone hitting the colon).

Also, minuteman is a fusion rather than just a spacer, as well. As we all know, fusions have their own issues. Don’t forget that the national neurosurgical association specifically put out a position statement that only neurosurgeons or spine surgeons should be doing fusions. I am sure that they would love to testify against a pain physician when a major complication occurs and the patient takes it to court.

That being said, am I against Minuteman? No, not exactly. I am trained in it and technically I know I can do the procedure. But if I feel that someone really needs an indirect decompression, I think a neurosurgeon or spine surgeon who does MIS TLIFs all day every day is probably the best person to do it. If the surgeon won’t operate on them for whatever reason and I am confident I can help the patients’s quality of life by doing a minuteman or Zip then maybe I will consider it now that Vertiflex is off the table.

 

[PinchandBurn]

Sorry to see this. Only did about 20 but most had very good results.

agreed
one of the best procedures i did. had to stop doing them d/t insurance.

was safe, quick, I have a patient that is nearly 7 years out and sent his friends all to me d/t this..

 

[1 Up]

Minuteman is superior.

 

[projectpat]

Any official statement by Boston or link stating its withdrawal?

 

[gaspasser127]

Rumor has it there is a DOJ investigation

 

[Gnarvin]

Rumor has it there is a DOJ investigation

Interesting. Of all the shady devices and companies out there, Vertiflex/Boston would not have been on my list that needed investigation. As far as I am aware, Vertiflex was only ever pushed for indications that had good evidence backing it up. It also reimbursed very poorly, at least from the pro fee standpoint.

 

[BobBarker]

I really doubt that there is classic DOJ investigation for kickbacks or pushing the device for offf label use.