3 stories this morning, for surgeons and the people who support them.
- HealthSpan Partners, a Bon Secours Mercy Health affiliate, agrees to acquire Surgery Partners in an all-cash deal at ~$5.7B enterprise value: $23.50/share (64% over 30-day VWAP; ~49% over the Oct 23 close of $15.75); Bain Capital (~39%) rolls over; 200+ locations in 30 states, ~5,000 affiliated physicians; close expected Q1 2027; $109.0M company termination fee — Announced Oct 26, 2026 (merger agreement signed Oct 23 per 8-K items 1.01/7.01). Name, brand and Brentwood, Tenn. HQ remain; company stays secular but will operate in compliance with BSMH's Statement of Common Values. Financed with cash and committed debt (Jefferies). Second sources: 8-K (0001104659-26-118643) and DEFA14A (0001104659-26-118870, premium figure); Benzinga 'Surgery Partners Surges as $5.7 Billion Deal Takes Company Private'. Prior close from Yahoo Finance chart data. Source
- J Shoulder Elbow Surg, New Zealand Joint Registry: in 8,601 primary reverse shoulders (2007-2024), polyethylene glenospheres had fewer revisions than metal (0.46 vs 0.71 per 100 component-years; adjusted HR 0.57), with similar Oxford Shoulder Scores to 10 years — Bayley et al., Auckland; online Oct 23, 2026 (PMID 42918537). 40% inverted-bearing (essentially LimaCorporate SMR Reverse polyethylene; Lima owned by Enovis since Jan 2024) vs 60% conventional (predominantly DePuy Delta Xtend). Unadjusted fewer revisions for deep infection (0.11 vs 0.20) and dislocation (0.09 vs 0.16). Registry design cannot separate bearing from implant design or measure notching. Source
- AO Spine Knowledge Forum Degenerative publishes clinical practice recommendations for interbody fusion at the lumbosacral junction: ALIF preferred when more lordosis is needed; stand-alone ALIF comparable to 360 in selected patients; ALIF plus percutaneous screws for isthmic spondylolisthesis when feasible — Martin CT ... Fischer CG; Global Spine J online Oct 23, 2026 (PMID 42925017, PMC13694465). Six conditional recommendations from six graded articles; lists TLIF lordosis maneuvers (grade 2 osteotomy, rod compression, anterior cage placement, hinged motorized table); supplemental fixation lowers nonunion risk but may be unnecessary in stable listhesis with good bone quality. No conflicts declared. Source
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