T-PLIF Spacer System
Transforaminal Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (T-PLIF) is performed to treat degenerative disc disease, recurrent disc herniation, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, and failed back syndrome.
The T-PLIF System is an allograft implant and instrument set that has been designed for use in transforaminal posterior lumbar interbody fusion procedures. This procedure was pioneered by Professor Jürgen Harms of Germany. Unlike a PLIF approach, this obviates the need to enter the spinal canal and allows access to the disc space from a lateral approach. Additionally, revision PLIF patients normally have a lot of scar tissue precluding access to the disc space. This system overcomes this problem. Synthes is the first-to-market with a dedicated set of instruments and implant for this procedure. Initial surgeon feedback has been positive and this is expected to be a very good niche product for posterior interbody fusions.
Instruments
For the minimally invasive Transforaminal Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (T-PLIF) procedure, specific instruments have been designed to support discetomy and ease implant insertion by a unilateral posterior approach. Access to the intervertebral disc is more lateral from the midline and eliminates the need for dural retraction.
Decisive for the procedure are the different curettes with gentle angulation and small working ends for increased manoeuverability. All of the new curettes fit through a 22 mm inner diameter working cannula or Three Blade Retractor.
Soft angle and up-biting curved pituitaries ease removal of disc material form the disc space.
Trial Spacers
Trial Spacers in both the regular style as well as the detachable style are offered for every footprint in each available height.
PLIF Implant Holder
The new PLIF Implant Holder is adapted to the increased width of the implants. It is compatible with all new Vertebral Spacer-PR implants, as well as the existing allograft implants, Vertebral Spacer-PR, and Syn-Cage Narrow implants.
Hazards and labeling
Due to varying countries’ legal and regulatory approval requirements, consult the appropriate local product labeling for approved intended use of the products described on this website. All devices on this website are approved by the AO Technical Commission. For logistical reasons, these devices may not be available in all countries worldwide at the date of publication.
Legal restrictions
This work was produced by AO Foundation, Switzerland. All rights reserved by AO Foundation. This publication, including all parts thereof, is legally protected by copyright.
Any use, exploitation or commercialization outside the narrow limits set forth by copyright legislation and the restrictions on use laid out below, without the publisher‘s consent, is illegal and liable to prosecution. This applies in particular to photostat reproduction, copying, scanning or duplication of any kind, translation, preparation of microfilms, electronic data processing, and storage such as making this publication available on Intranet or Internet.
Some of the products, names, instruments, treatments, logos, designs, etc referred to in this publication are also protected by patents, trademarks or by other intellectual property protection laws (eg, “AO” and the AO logo are subject to trademark applications/registrations) even though specific reference to this fact is not always made in the text. Therefore, the appearance of a name, instrument, etc without designation as proprietary is not to be construed as a representation by the publisher that it is in the public domain.
Restrictions on use: The rightful owner of an authorized copy of this work may use it for educational and research purposes only. Single images or illustrations may be copied for research or educational purposes only. The images or illustrations may not be altered in any way and need to carry the following statement of origin “Copyright by AO Foundation, Switzerland”.
Check www.aofoundation.org/disclaimer for more information.
If you have any comments or questions on the articles or the new devices, please do not hesitate to contact us.
“approved by AO Technical Commission” and “approved by AO Foundation”
The brands and labels “approved by AO Technical Commission” and “approved by AO Foundation”, particularly "AO" and the AO logo, are AO Foundation's intellectual property and subject to trademark applications and registrations, respectively. The use of these brands and labels is regulated by licensing agreements between AO Foundation and the producers of innovation products obliged to use such labels to declare the products as AO Technical Commission or AO Foundation approved solutions. Any unauthorized or inadequate use of these trademarks may be subject to legal action.
