The medical device was approved in 2002. Infuse was approved for a lumbar fusion performed through the stomach. However, Infuse has been used off label for other spinal related issues without ever being tested for efficacy or safety.

In a recent article by the Spinal Journal, it was noted that surgeons, who were paid tens of millions of dollars by Infuse bone graft maker Medtronic  failed to report serious complications such as cancer, male sterility, infections, bone dissolution, and worsened back and leg pain. Shockingly, the article said complications occurred in 10 to 50 percent of patients who were implanted with the product in 13 Medtronic-funded clinical trials between 2000 and 2010. more »

What to expect after transvaginal mesh surgery depends on how realistic your doctor was when he or she recommended the surgery. more »

Approved by the FDA in 1993, Effexor is an antidepressant categorized as an SNRI,  Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. SNRI’s are used to treat major depression and mood disorders, but can also be used for the treatment of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, chronic neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and for the relief of menopausal symptoms.  more »

What is transvaginal mesh procedure? Transvaginal mesh is a medical device which is implanted into the vaginal area to reinforce the weakened vaginal wall to repair pelvic organ prolapse (POP) or to support the urethra in order to treat urinary incontinence. more »

For more than a decade, federal regulations have required trucks to have rear underride guards to prevent cars from going under a truck in a rear end collision. These regulations apply in Pennsylvania and around the country and are meant to protect car drivers and passengers from serious, potentially fatal, crashes. more »

If you are considering a transvaginal mesh surgery then you likely have a lot of questions including: how is transvaginal mesh surgery done and what are the risks of trans vaginal mesh? more »

When your child is born with a cleft palate, you likely have a lot of questions. You want to make the best decisions possible for your child, but first you need to understand your child’s condition or conditions. For example, you might want to know what other birth defects accompany cleft palate. more »

Managing depression or anxiety during pregnancy is both important and scary. You need to take the steps necessary to protect your own health and you need to do what is best for your baby, realizing that some antidepressant and antianxiety medications can have serious consequences for children. more »

At the urging of the Casey Feldman Foundation, the  Pa General Assembly adopted a Resolution Declaring April Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The resolution was jointly sponsored by Representative Gregory Vitali and Representative William Adolph. more »

The Biomet Hip Resurfacing System clinical trial has been approved by the FDA to determine if the Biomet total resurfacing system is safe and a viable alternative to total hip replacement surgery. The FDA protocol determines which patients may be eligible to take part in the study. The FDA also requires that doctors participating in this study be approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the Protection of Human Subjects. Currently, only one doctor located in New Jersey or Pennsylvania has been approved to participate in this study. That doctor is located in Teaneck, New Jersey according to Biomet’s website. more »