Healthcare fraud and abuse in spine surgery: a review of medicolegal actions brought by the United States federal government.

Most cases of healthcare fraud involving spine surgery resulted in a settlement (78%) or a guilty plea by the defendant (18%). Violations of healthcare fraud and abuse laws in the field of spine surgery can lead to exorbitant fines, exclusion from federal healthcare programs, and even incarceration. These findings can inform spine surgeons and other healthcare providers of the dynamics of healthcare fraud and abuse laws, as well as the consequences of violating such statutes.