Spine

Titanium Monoaxial Screw
Titanium Monoaxial Screw
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Depending on its purpose will determine the group or category it belongs in. Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgery defines the functions implants can assist with:

  • correcting deformities
  • strengthening and improving the stability of the spine
  • facilitating the fusion of two vertebrae

Types of Spinal Implants

Spinal implants are medical devices used by surgeons to treat the above conditions.

As mentioned earlier, spinal implants fall into two categories, fusion and non-fusion. When it comes to lumbar fusion surgery, the two groups can be classified as those placed within the inter-body space (the disc space) or placed directly onto the spine for stabilization.

Fusion – is a surgical procedure to create unions between rigid bones using a bone graft.

Fusion spinal implants can be sorted into three groups:

  1. Cages
  2. Plates
  3. Rods

Cages act as a space holder between two vertebrae. It will become part of the spine, so the bone graft can be placed to allow “growth” into them. (to allow a spinal fusion to occur between the two vertebrae). They are also known as inter-body cages.

The cages offer support and stability after surgery. They generally do not need screws.

Plates, on the other hand, are usually attached with screws to the vertebrae. They assist in stabilizing the spine.

This type of fusion is a procedure in which a surgeon uses an instrument such as a plate and screws to help the bones grow together. They are still flexible enough to allow the spine to bend.

Rods also help to stabilize the spine. They are connected with hooks or pedicle screws to the vertebrae.

Non-Fusion – is an alternative to the traditional spinal fusion, which permanently affixes two or more bones in the spine.

Recently, new lumbar technology has been approved by the FDA. The implants acknowledge the use of preserving motion (normal range of motion) rather than fusing it.

Artificial disc and expandable rods are two ways this type of procedure can be performed.

Artificial discs also known as artificial disc replacement (ADR) is a medical device implanted into the spine that acts or imitates as a normal disc. Surgeons can replace the entire disc or remove only the nucleus (center of the disc).

The artificial disc is designed to preserve motion after surgery that is as close to normal as possible.