In the September 1997 Spine Section Newsletter, the Sofamor-Danek Group, Inc., presented a three-page summary of the pedicle screw litigation and the proposed AcroMed settlement. Prior to publication of that newsletter, AcroMed Corporation had declined an opportunity to submit their opinion on the litigation and proposed settlement. AcroMed declined the offer because their legal team did not want to jeopardize their case prior to acceptance of the final settlement agreement.

Last month, the federal district court accepted the settlement proposed by AcroMed. The approval is an appeal to the Federal Court of Appeals. A follow-up call was made to provide AcroMed with an opportunity to present their side of the pedicle screw settlement. Mr. Jim Robson, Executive Vice President of AcroMed, accepted the Spine Section’s offer. His response begins on page 2 of this newsletter.

The purpose of these letters from the industrial representatives was to provide neurosurgeons with the opportunity to make informed decisions rather than rely on hearsay or anecdotal reports. There has been much controversy surrounding the pedicle screw litigation and the AcroMed settlement throughout the spine surgery community. We hope this opportunity to hear the companies’ view in their own words has helped clarify some of the debate surrounding this case. The report from AcroMed will close the pedicle screw series until the day the Food and Drug Administration makes its ruling regarding down classification.