Lack of Financing Forces Laser Spine Institute to Close

The Laser Spine Institute has discontinued its operations, effective March 1. Despite significant cost saving activities over the last six months—including closing three surgical centers—that dramatically reduced its operating cost structure, the company has been unable to achieve a financially sustainable path forward.  
 
The company, the nation’s leader in minimally-invasive spine surgery, will cease operations, effective immediately. The company is reaching out to other surgical providers in the markets where they operate—Tampa, Fla.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Scottsdale, Ariz.; St. Louis, Mo.—to determine whether these providers have the capacity to absorb the additional surgical demand. Simultaneously, company representatives are reaching out to all patients who were slated to have surgery in one of the company’s four surgical centers to notify them of the company’s closing and refer them to other in-market options. The company will also provide facilities for patients to receive the requisite post-operative care. 
 
“My heart goes out to our staff who have stuck with us through all of our adversity and worked so tirelessly to help us right the ship,” said Jake Brace, Laser Spine Institute’s CEO, who was brought in late last year to help restructure the company. “We celebrate their efforts to keep the company going, as well as their great track record of providing nearly 100,000 surgical procedures, thereby helping patients afflicted with chronic neck and back problems quickly and effectively regain their prior lives.”
 
The company had achieved an operational turnaround. However, it was unable to attract the necessary financing to undertake a Chapter 11 process and continue operations. 
 
Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., Laser Spine Institute helped patients find lasting relief from debilitating neck and back pain caused by spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, bone spurs, bulging/herniated discs, sciatica and other chronic conditions. Laser Spine Institute has been repeatedly recognized for outstanding patient satisfaction and reports an enterprise-wide 98 percent patient satisfaction rate.