A group of orthopedic surgeons is challenging research by UW-Madison spine specialist Thomas Zdeblick, saying he failed to disclose risks of a bone-growth substance made by a company that has paid him at least $21 million in royalties. The criticism, made Tuesday in a special edition of The Spine Journal, comes after the U.S. Senate Finance Committee sent a letter last week to the company, Minneapolis-based Medtronic. The letter asked for financial records and communications with doctors such as Zdeblick. Zdeblick and UW-Madison officials defended his actions. They said he reported risks of the substance when appropriate and followed rules on disclosing his royalties, which are for Medtronic devices other than the product under scrutiny.
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