The Arena-C HA with PEEK-OPTIMA HA Enhanced, manufactured by SpineFrontier, is a spinal implant device that is produced with a “revolutionary” new biomaterial to enhance spinal fusion technology. Jacob Rosenstein of USMD Hospital at Arlington, USA, used the implant in an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedure to treat a patient who was suffering from spinal cord compression and myelopathy as a result of degenerative disc disease that was producing severe cervical stenosis.
PEEK-OPTIMA HA Enhanced shares all of the properties of PEEK-OPTIMA Natural, which aids in stabilising the cervical spine, but it has been compounded with hydroxyapatite (HA), a naturally occurring compound in bony structures. HA promotes the formation of a direct interface between the implant and bone, without intervening soft tissue. This is the first implant to be made with HA, and was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration in October 2014.
“The Arena-C HA with PEEK-OPTIMA is a potential game changer for spinal fusion procedures,” said Rosenstein. “By incorporating HA, a naturally occurring compound in bony structures, into the PEEK Cage, fusion rate will improve, as HA promotes direct attachment of the implant to the bone, thus providing added stability and quicker healing. The device also has a tapered design for easier insertion, a large bone graft pocket to promote bone fusion and aggressive teeth to prevent expulsion. This is a great benefit to patients, who will heal faster and more predictably and return to normal activity sooner.”
