INTRODUCTION: Poly(ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK) is considered to be promising novel polymer biomaterial for orthopaedic and spinal applications, because PEEK exhibits excellent mechanical properties, chemical stability, non-magnetic nature, and compatible with reinforcing agents such as carbon fibers, as compared with polyethylene or metallic materials. However, since conventional PEEK cannot sat...

BACKGROUND This prospective study analyzes the perioperative outcomes and long-term fusion success of 100 consecutive lumbar degenerative cases. The cases were managed using a non-threaded locking screw system, in conjunction with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages, for posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) procedures. These 100 cases were compared to another prospective study treating patien...

BACKGROUND We intended to analyze the efficacy of a new integrated cage and plate device called Perfect-C for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) to cure single-level cervical degenerative disc disease. METHODS We enrolled 148 patients who were subjected to single-level ACDF with one of the following three surgical devices: a Perfect-C implant (41 patients), a Zero-P implant (36 pa...

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case series. OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to retrospectively review the results of posterior lumbar fusion using polyetheretherketone (PEEK) rods. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Pedicle screw and rod instrumentation has become the preferred technique for performing stabilization and fusion in the lumbar spine for degenerative disease. Rigid fixation with tit...

BACKGROUND Pyogenic infections of the lumbar spine are a rare but critical pathology, yet with considerably high mortality rates. In cases indicating surgical therapy, the implantation of titanium cages or autologous bone grafts represent today's gold standard. Although non-metallic implants such as poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) have proven to be advantageous in diverse degenerative conditions...

background:   after cervical discectomy, autogenetic bone is packed into the cage to increase the rate of :union: between adjacent vertebral bodies, but donor site–related complications can still occur. in this study we evaluate the use   of hydroxyapatite granules as a substitute for autograft for interbody fusion.     methods:   from november 2008 to november 2011, 236 patients participated i...

BACKGROUND Anterior cervical discectomy with interbody fusion cages is considered the standard surgical procedure in patients with cervical disc herniation. However, PEEK or metal cages have some undesirable imaging characteristics, leading to a search for alternative materials not creating artifacts on images; silicon nitride ceramic. Whether patients treated with silicon nitride ceramic cages...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the early results of unilateral posterior lumbar interbody fusion technique in lumbar discectomy cases compared with simple discectomy and bilateral posterior interbody fusion cases using visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry outcomes instruments and radiological and physical examinations. METHODS The control group had 40 patients who underwent simple discectomy. In gr...