Challenging 50 Years of Industry Norms: Dr. Kingsley R. Chin and Barrow Neurological Institute’s Groundbreaking Study Validating FacetFuse® as a Simpler Alternative to Traditional Pedicle Screws
Led by Dr. Kingsley R. Chin, Harvard-trained Spine Surgeon, Innovator, and CEO, New Findings Champion FacetFuse LESS Exposure Spine Surgery Approach Over Decades of Pedicle Screw Hardware-Intensive Fusion Techniques
Dr. Kingsley R Chin, founder and CEO of KIC Ventures
Fort Lauderdale, FL — Spine surgery has long relied on complex hardware, costly robotic systems, and imaging technology to address spinal fusion needs. However, Dr. Kingsley R. Chin, founder of healthtech private equity firm KIC Ventures, is challenging these entrenched practices with his pioneering LESS Exposure Spine Surgery (LESS) approach. A groundbreaking study published in the September 2024 issue of the Journal of Spine Surgery, led by Dr. Chin and a team of researchers at the Barrow Neurological Institute, validates that two FacetFuse® transfacet pedicle screws provide biomechanical stability equivalent to traditional four-screw pedicle rod systems. This study establishes FacetFuse as a cornerstone in KIC Ventures’ LESS Exposure Advanced Spine Technologies (LEAST) portfolio. Today, KIC Ventures is the largest healthtech private equity firm with a majority-owned spine technology portfolio dedicated to transforming traditional spine surgery.
An Insider’s Bold Stand Against the Spine Surgery Status Quo
Dr. Chin’s role as both an industry insider and a transformative outsider underscores his mission. With over 100 scientific publications, Ivy League training, and years of experience as a practicing spine surgeon, Dr. Chin is also a Jamaican immigrant, a Black entrepreneur, and the only private equity founder who is both a surgeon and an executive. By advancing LESS Exposure technologies, Dr. Chin disrupts long-standing industry norms and the reliance on hardware-intense, costly constructs.
“The field has depended on traditional pedicle screws for more than 50 years, despite complications tied to excessive hardware,” stated Dr. Chin. “FacetFuse offers a biomechanically sound, minimal-hardware option that avoids the need for high-cost robotics and imaging technology often required for pedicle screws. This LESS Exposure technology ensures stable fusion without unnecessary complexities.”
The LESS Exposure Philosophy: Empowering Surgeons with Simplicity and Safety
KIC Ventures’ approach to spine care is centered on the LESS Exposure Spine Surgery philosophy, a patient-first framework that preserves and restores anatomy while reducing hardware reliance and procedural complexity. FacetFuse embodies this vision with only two transfacet screws positioned away from the spinal canal, protecting multifidus muscles and delivering stability without the need for rods, set screws, or extensive operating room equipment.
“Dr. Chin’s LESS Exposure techniques have completely reshaped how I approach fusion surgery,” said an orthopedic spine surgeon trained by Dr. Chin. “FacetFuse has become integral to my practice, offering patients a reliable fusion without the invasiveness of traditional pedicle screw and rod systems. This innovation transforms outcomes without adding cost or complexity.”
Broadening Access: New Fusion Options for Interventional Pain Management (IPM) Physicians
FacetFuse has also created a lasting solution for interventional pain management (IPM) physicians to address facet joint pain—where previously, temporary relief through injections or radiofrequency ablation was the norm. FacetFuse empowers IPM doctors to provide durable fusion in outpatient settings, allowing earlier intervention in the disease process and avoiding future reconstructive surgery.
One IPM doctor trained by Dr. Chin shared, “FacetFuse fits seamlessly into our outpatient workflow, allowing me to offer patients a more permanent option for facet joint pain. Dr. Chin’s LESS Exposure Spine Surgery is delivering a sustainable solution that doesn’t require high-cost equipment, making it more accessible.”
Redefining Private Equity and Surgeon-Owned Innovation
With KIC Ventures, Dr. Chin has pioneered a private equity model that empowers surgeons to invest directly in the spine technologies they use. This alignment of interests drives adoption and innovation of LESS Exposure techniques across the field, challenging the norm where surgeons rarely hold ownership in the innovations they rely on.
Aditya Humad, President and CFO of KIC Ventures, commented: “FacetFuse represents a ‘last mover advantage’ in spinal fusion, positioning our NANISX portfolio for increased adoption among spine professionals seeking advanced solutions. Dr. Chin’s vision brings essential innovation directly into the hands of surgeons, contrasting with traditional systems that often add unnecessary cost and complexity.”
The Future of Spine Care: A Paradigm Shift in Progress
As Dr. Chin and his team advance the LESS Exposure Spine Surgery approach, FacetFuse opens new possibilities for surgeons, IPM physicians, and patients alike. “Traditional pedicle screws have become synonymous with hardware-intense, complex procedures,” Dr. Chin explained. “The time is right to redefine these procedures with solutions that deliver simplicity, safety, and affordability.”
FacetFuse, a transformative technology in the NANISX portfolio, underscores Dr. Chin’s commitment to revolutionizing spine care. With the continued growth of KIC Ventures’ physician-led model, Dr. Chin is reshaping the future of spine surgery—one LESS Exposure technology at a time.
For more information about FacetFuse and its role in transforming spine fusion surgery, visit www.kicventures.com.
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