Lanx has announced that a new study (published ahead of print in Surgical Technology International) that suggests that using the Aspen minimally invasive surgery (MIS) fusion system in conjunction with lumbar discectomy can help decrease the incidence of subsequent disc herniation, while providing a less invasive fusion procedure.
According to a press release, the retrospective study, titled “Recurrent lumbar disc herniation treated with interspinous fusion and instrumentation: a case series”, evaluated four patients treated with repeat micro-lumbar discectomy with the Aspen device fixation for recurrent disc herniation and associated radiculopathy and instability. All had previously undergone at least one micro-lumbar discectomy without fusion. There were no intraoperative complications and patients remained in the hospital for an average of one day. At a mean follow-up of 21 months, patients demonstrated functional improvement, with no clinical evidence of complications or reherniation.
Study author Jeffrey Oppenheim, chief of the Section of Neurosurgery at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York, said: “Recurrent lumbar disc herniation is not uncommon after discectomy, yet most surgeons are hesitant to perform a traditional instrumented fusion to supplement the procedure due to the associated risk of complications and lengthy recovery. This review suggests fixation with the Aspen device may offer an ideal surgical method to help reduce the incidence of disc reherniation by promoting solid fusion with a minimally-invasive surgical technique.”
The press release reported that the Aspen system was developed as a less-invasive alternative to pedicle screw fixation while providing comparable biomechanical stability.
