Contents
Commentary
n MESSAGE FROM THE MEDICAL EDITOR
Battle 2004: Medical Liability Reform 
Stuart M. Weinstein, MD
n FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
Carrying Themes to the 2003 Annual Meeting: Patient Safety & Advocacy 
David A. Wong, MD, MSc, FRSC(C)
n LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 
Battle 2004: Medical Liability Reform
Response to Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
William Sukovich, MD
Response to Flat Back Syndrome
George M. Weisz, MD, FRACS
Current Concepts
n INVITED REVIEW
Epidural Spinal Injections: Past, Present and Future 
Yung Chen, MD; Richard Derby, MD; Byung-Jo Kim, MD, PhD; Sang-Heon Lee, MD; PhD
n CURVE/COUNTERCURVE
Cervical Spine Clearance in the Obtunded Trauma Patient 
Ronald W. Lindsey, MD; Zbigniew Gugala, MD, PhD; Jens R. Chapman, MD; Deborah J. Webb; Sohail K. Mirza, MD; Stuart M. Weinstein, MD
n SPECIAL FEATURE
The Role of Human Error in Medical Errors 
David A. Wong, MD, FRSC(C); Stanley A. Herring, MD
n LITERATURE REVIEW
New from the Journals 
Kenneth P. Burres, MD; Robert J. Gatchel, PhD; Brian Kwon, MD, FRCSC; Jonathan N. Grauer, MD; John M. Beiner, MD; Alexander Vaccaro, MD
n ABSTRACT REVIEW
NASS Annual Meeting Abstracts 
Susan Dreyer, MD; Scott Boden, MD
n RADIOLOGY ROUNDS
Case Report: Early Cauda Equina Syndrome from Disc Herniation 
Mark A. Beckner, MD; Donald L. Renfrew, MD; Kenneth B. Heithoff, MD
Socioeconomics & Politics
n PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
Managed Care Negotiating 
Stephen P. Montgomery, MD
n CODING Q & A
Coding Cervical/Thoracic Anterior Procedures 
NASS Coding Committee
n ETHICAL/LEGAL
Use of Off-Label Products: Current Law 
Eric J. Muehlbauer, CAE; Marjorie Eskay-Auerbach, MD, JD
n ADVOCACY/LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS/PAC
Fix the Formula 
Tom Faciszewski, MD
NASS News 
Crockard, Nance to Speak at Annual Meeting
Variety of Premeeting Courses Available at 18th Annual Meeting
Additional San Diego Hotels Now Available
John Pinette to Entertain at Banquet
18th Annual Meeting Offers New Events and Long-Standing Favorites
Experience San Diego with Unique Tours
NASS Research Fund Challenge Issued
Help Make History
Members in the News
Pain Management Monographs Available
In Memoriam
NASS Calendar