title: Introduction to focus issue.
authors.affiliation: *Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada †Spectrum Research, Tacoma, Washington ‡University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina §Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Fehlings
authors.forename: Anick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nater
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skelly
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McGirt
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mroz
mesh_terms: D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery*; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends