Basketball Hall-of-Famer Bill Walton Embarks on Patient

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 27, 2013) - NuVasive, Inc. ( NASDAQ : NUVA ), a medical device company focused on developing minimally disruptive surgical products and procedures for the spine, announced today that The Better Way Back ^® , a NuVasive-supported patient education program, will hold two patient seminars in July.

Bill Walton, Basketball Hall-of-Famer and Patient Ambassador with The Better Way Back, will co-host both events:

• Walton and Dr. Roy Vingan of North Jersey Brain and Spine will co-host the first event at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, N.J., on Thursday, July 11, 2013, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. EDT.
• Walton and Dr. Rudolph Buckley of Hamilton Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine will co-host the second event at the Masonic Care Community in Utica, N.Y., on July 12, 2013, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. EDT.

Both patient events are open to the community. To RSVP or to learn more about The Better Way Back, please visit: www.thebetterwayback.org or call 800-745-7099.

The Better Way Back frequently sponsors patient seminars to educate preoperative patients on minimally disruptive surgery, including the XLIF ^® (eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion) procedure.

Recently, Walton and retired MMA fighter, Nate Quarry, spoke about their spine surgery experiences with preoperative patients at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, Ga. Walton and Quarry have both undergone XLIF procedures to help relieve chronic back pain. Today, they are both living pain-free and have made personal commitments to "pay it forward." They are Patient Ambassadors with The Better Way Back, a role that allows them to speak with prospective patients about their own decisions to undergo XLIF surgery and potential benefits of the procedure.

Quarry suffered from degenerative disc disease that prevented him from training. He was afraid of losing his MMA career and his ability to provide for his daughter. He eventually opted to undergo the XLIF procedure in 2006. Just 15 months later, Quarry returned to the Octagon™, winning his comeback fight against an old adversary.

"To be able to give people hope, to be able to give people the dream that they may have a chance -- that's why we're here," Quarry said.

Walton also lived with increasingly unbearable pain. After trying a number of unsuccessful treatment options, and even contemplating suicide, he underwent the XLIF procedure in 2009.

"I just wanted my life -- any life -- back," said Walton.

After his surgery, Walton was amazed by the relief he experienced from his excruciating nerve pain. Eager to share his story with others, he also became a Patient Ambassador with The Better Way Back, giving hope to others who suffer from back and leg pain.

In addition to sharing stories with preoperative patients, Patient Ambassadors routinely speak on behalf of patients who are unable to speak for themselves. The Better Way Back community raises awareness with legislative and regulatory decisions makers by providing educational information about spine disorders, innovative treatment options, and an overview of patient outcomes.

For NuVasive press materials please visit: http://www.nuvasive.com/about-us/newsroom/

About The Better Way Back The Better Way Back is dedicated to building a community that provides hope, support, and valuable information to patients suffering from chronic back and leg pain. We are committed to raising public awareness of spine disorders and educating patients, loved ones, clinicians, and healthcare providers about treatment options including surgery. Our passionate commitment is to establish The Better Way Back as the preeminent resource for chronic back and leg pain information and surgical treatment options.

About NuVasive NuVasive is an innovative global medical device company that is changing spine surgery with minimally disruptive surgical products and procedurally integrated solutions for the spine. The Company is the 4th largest player in the $8.2 billion global spine market.

NuVasive offers a comprehensive spine portfolio of more than 80 unique products developed to improve spine surgery and patient outcomes. The Company's principal procedural solution is its Maximum Access Surgery, or MAS ^® platform for lateral spine fusion. MAS provides safe, reproducible, and clinically proven outcomes, and is a highly differentiated solution with fully integrated neuromonitoring, customizable exposure, and a broad offering of application-specific implants and fixation devices designed to address a variety of pathologies.

Having pioneered the lateral approach to spine fusion, NuVasive continues to be at the forefront of the spine industry's shift toward less invasive solutions. The Company places a large focus on clinical research through its support of the Society of Lateral Access Surgery, or SOLAS ^® , to expand the body of clinical data regarding minimally disruptive surgical treatment options. The Company's dedication to innovation continues to spawn game changing technology such as the PCM ^® motion preserving disc for the cervical spine, XLIF ^® Corpectomy for tumor and trauma, and Armada ^® , which treats adult degenerative scoliosis in a less invasive fashion. The Company has also developed procedural solutions that completely redefine and improve upon traditional procedures like TLIF, PLIF, Posterior Fixation, and ALIF. NuVasive's solutions are increasingly being adopted internationally, as the Company lays the groundwork to continue growing as a global business and to offer industry-leading, Absolutely Responsive customer service to surgeons world-wide. NuVasive is focused on becoming a $1 Billion Start-up™; taking market share by maintaining a commitment to Superior Clinical Outcomes, Speed of Innovation ^® , and Absolute Responsiveness ^® .

NuVasive cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which, if they do not materialize or prove correct, could cause NuVasive's results to differ materially from historical results or those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual growth and results to differ materially include, but are not limited to those risks and uncertainties more fully described in NuVasive's press releases and periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. NuVasive's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available at www.sec.gov . NuVasive assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which it was made .