Commentary
n MESSAGE FROM THE MEDICAL EDITOR
The Art of Imprecision 
Stuart M. Weinstein, MD
n FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
Everything I Know I’ve Learned From My Bad Back 
David Shields with an Introduction by Stanley A. Herring, MD
Current Concepts
n INVITED REVIEW
A Practical Guide to Understanding Statistical Concepts in the Spine Literature
Alan Hilibrand, MD; Jeffrey Wang, MD; Frederick Dorey, PhD
n CURVE/COUNTERCURVE
Painful Thoracic Disc With Neurologic Compromise – To Operate or Not To Operate
Courtney Brown, MD; Brad Currier, MD; David Fardon, MD
n SPINE IN SPORTS
Interactive Computer-Enhanced Fitness Training
Kenneth P. Burres, MD
n SPECIAL FEATURE
It’s More Than Human Error – A Systems Approach to Patient Safety
David A. Wong, MD, MSc, FRCS(C)
n LITERATURE REVIEW
New from the Journals
Marco T. Silva, MD; David Kim, MD; Ray Haroun, MD; Erik Westerlund, MD; Alexander Vaccaro, MD; Kenneth P. Burres, MD; Stuart M. Weinstein, MD
n ABSTRACT REVIEW
NASS Annual Meeting Abstracts
Susan Dreyer, MD; Scott Boden, MD
n RADIOLOGY ROUNDS
Case Report: Synovial Cyst Adjacent to Surgical Decompression
Donald L. Renfrew, MD; Gregory O. Munson, MD; Kenneth B. Heithoff, MD
Socioeconomics & Politics
n ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY
Robotics in Spine Surgery
Stephen Hochshuler, MD
n PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
CMS Expands Communications to Physicians
Steve Montgomery, MD; Charles Grudem, MD
n CODING Q & A
Cervical Fracture Coding Scenario; Trigger Point Code Clarification
Steve Heim, MD; Frank Lagattuta, MD
n ECONOMICS OF HEALTH CARE
NASS Member Survey Results
Elizabeth Yurth, MD
n ETHICAL/LEGAL
Antitrust and Labor Law Issues for Spine Care Physicians
Phillip Benton, MD, JD; Howard Morgan, MD, MA
n ADVOCACY/LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS/PAC
How Politics Shapes Our Future: A Survival Guide
Tom Faciszewski, MD
NASS News
Ralph C. Merkle Chosen as Keynote Speaker
Tuesdays With Morrie Author, Sports Writer Tapped for Annual Meeting Keynote Address
Report on Neuropathic Pain Following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Now Available
Educational Needs Assessment Summary Report
Papers and Posters Selected for Annual Meeting
Coding Update 2003 Offered at Montreal Meeting
Details About Symposia Topics Provided by NASS Annual Meeting Program Committee
Montréal Tours Available at Annual Meeting
In Memoriam
Phase III Clinical Guidelines Added to National Guideline Clearinghouse
NASS Develops New Publications
NASS Memorial Gifts: Funding Through Giving
Spine Research Foundation Donors
Annual Research Fund Contributors
Conference to Focus on Patient Outcomes
Become Involved in Decade of the Spine
Data Collection Questionnaires and Scoring Available Through the NASS Web Site
Spine Across the Sea
Plans Underway for Second Interdisciplinary Congress on Spine Care
Nonoperative Care Committee Perspective: Electrodiagnostic Testing in Spine Disorders: What You Really Need to Know