Precision Spine has announced the release of its MD-Max ULIF (Universal lumbar interbody fusion) minimally disruptive, maximum access system. The MD-Max ULIF system is a minimally invasive retractor access/fixation system that is designed to enable surgeons to achieve results which are the same as, or better than, those attributed to the classic open approach. The system’s surgical approach is designed to be minimally disruptive while providing maximum access to the operative site, helping reduce blood loss and optimising OR time.
Precision Spine says that the MD-Max ULIF design team focused on helping surgeons to achieve a reproducible procedure, with the goal of enhancing cost-effectiveness for hospitals and payers. The system’s approach is designed to shorten the learning curve and reduce OR time by using techniques already familiar to surgeons. The MD-Max ULIF system allows surgeons to address all of the pathology with decompression from a unilateral approach and a contralateral distraction of the spine via contralateral sleeves. The retractor design permits bi-lateral distraction of the disc space to open up both neuroforamen symmetrically. The team was driven by the concept that if the surgeon wants to reach the spine from an ipsilateral approach, all pathology should be addressable both contralaterally and ipsilaterally from one side only and, if contralateral decompression becomes necessary, the system should allow the surgeon to do so.
Donald Kucharzyk, of The Orthopaedic, Pediatric and Spine Institute in Crown Point, Indiana, USA and lead development surgeon for the system comments: The MD-Max ULIF system is designed to incorporate minimally disruptive techniques familiar to spine surgeons, and the ability to facilitate maximum access through very small incision sites. I believe that the system is a win-win for surgeons, hospitals and payers because its goal is to combine greater OR efficiency with the ability to perform parallel and multi-level distractions and the possibility of speedier patient recovery.”
