PLIVIOS
For the surgical treatment of degenerated lumbar discs, cages can be used in order to restore disc height and the lordotic curve. A mechanically stable and durable device such as PLIVIOS or Contact Fusion Cage can be used. The new PLIVIOS implants are based on the clinically established PLIVIOS and Vertebral Spacer-PR concept. The open structure and the interface to the implant holder is the same. In order to ease the rotation of the implant, one row of teeth has been removed and is replaced by a chamfer. The cross-section is adapted to the Contact Fusion Cage sizes of 7 8 mm, 9 8 mm, 10 8 mm, 11 9 mm, 12 10 mm, 13 10 mm, and 15 11 mm. The implants provide two lordotic angles of 4 and 8. All implants are available empty or prefilled with chronOS block material. PLIVIOS provides benefits in dorsal arthrodesis with cage by preserving the integrity of the endplates and their stability.
The Vertebral Spacer PR is a radiolucent spacer system designed for use in interbody procedures for L1 through L5. The footprint is 8 x 22 mm and comes in 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17 mm heights. This narrow width allows for a smaller window to be created, by a partial laminectomy, lateral to the spinal cord without compromising the facet joints and structural stability of that vertebral level.
The spacer is made out of PEEK Optima, a radiolucent, biocompatible, inert polymer material. It has a rectangular footprint and convex cranial/caudal surfaces to match the vertebral endplate geometry. The implant has a scaffold-like structure which reduces the overall amount of synthetic material needed. A central hole allows the use of allograft. The Vertebral Spacer PR contains two radio-opaque pins for proper placement under fluoroscopy and recognition in follow-up evaluations.
New instruments for PLIVIOS
Implant Holder for PLIVIOS
The Implant Holder has a strengthened shaft with a keel which avoids the shearing-off of the instrument. The shaft elements are rounded in order to avoid mechanical stress to the surrounding tissue while rotating the instrument. The transition of the tips to the shaft is rounded in order to reduce the risk of breaking.
The Nerve Root Retractor and Packing Block
The Nerve Root Retractor is a new protection instrument which allows a safer access to the intervertebral space through the posterior access. The frontal blades are inserted between the nerve root and the dura. The metal blades protect the mentioned neural structure from major damages, eventually caused from the toothed implant.
The Packing Block comprises four cavities for the individual width of the implants.
64-year-old woman, lateral, pre- and postoperative x-rays.
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