First porous PEEK spinal implant clinical study validates its use in treating degenerative cervical disc disease

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Porous PEEK technology has been incorporated into NuVasive’s portfolio since the company acquired Vertera Spine in September 2017

Porous polyetheretherketone (PEEK) technology (NuVasive) is a clinically viable alternative for improving osseointegration and fusion rates of interbody implants to treat degenerative cervical disc disease, a recent paper in the Journal of Spine & Neurosurgery reports.

In the study, 50 patients (31 women and 19 men; average age 60) with degenerative cervical disc disease underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion using a Cohere cervical interbody fusion device (NuVasive)—with 100% of participants experiencing positive results.

Cohere provides a unique three-dimensional porous PEEK architecture to help elicit and encourage bone ingrowth without compromising implant strength, a press release states. The porous PEEK technology has been validated by ten years of scientific research, and has been incorporated into NuVasive’s portfolio since the company acquired Vertera Spine in September 2017.

“This interbody fusion device with porous PEEK surface technology provided improved osseointegration and supported spinal fusion in single level and multi-level cervical fusions,” says J Kenneth Burkus (Hughston Clinic, Columbus, USA). “Twelve-month clinical outcomes have demonstrated the efficacy and stability of the Cohere porous PEEK interbody device and shown that it is a clinically viable implant alternative for achieving successful clinical and radiological outcomes in cervical spine fusion surgery, particularly in multi-level or revision surgeries where fusion rates are lower.”

During the course of the clinical study, there were 11 one-level, 23 two-level and 16 three-level fusions between C3 and C7. Patients came from all walks of life and with various comorbidities. Thirteen of them had previously had an unsuccessful anterior cervical fusion procedure. Notably, all patients who had revision surgery with Cohere achieved fusion six months after the surgery.

At 12 months post-operative anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery, all 50 patients demonstrated improved motion, decreased neck pain and average disc height increased by more than 4 mm. In addition, each of them showed radiographic fusion.


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