Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

• PEEK OPTIMA®
• User friendly instrumentation
• Titanium Markers for accurate positioning
• Variety of sizes to suit all your requirements
• Anatomical shape to adapt to the patient’s anatomy
• Robotic Finger Type teeth minimize risk of implant movement

Operative Technique

• Expose the nerve elements adequately and ensure that you have exposure to vertabral disc space by means of a laminectomy
• With minimum retraction of the dura, and working within the foramina, perform the necessary annulotomy, discectomy, curettage and distraction*.
• Pedicle screws (or similar fusion construct) can be used to maintain the distraction. Alternatively, the trial spacers can be used to distract the vertebrae.
• Once the end plates have been prepared, ensuring that they are parallel and smoothed, use the spacers to determine the appropriate size of the PLIF to use.
• Insert the appropriate PLIF and radiographically check the placement. Additional fusion construct (e.g. Pedicle screw fixation) is recommended.

Distraction can be achieved using laminal spreaders, interbody spreaders, twist spreaders or pedicle screws. (Note: if pedicle screws are to be used to distract, extreme caution must be exercised as there is a possibility that there may be pedicle fractures and loosening of pedicle screws.)

Indications

The PLIF is designed to be inserted bilaterally, via posterior approach, in the intervertebral space to aid in fusion of vertebrae

• Degenerative disc disease
• Low grade spondylolisthesis (Grade 1 or 2)
• When a 360 degree fusion is desired
• Fixation across the lumbosacral junction especially with a long fusion.
• Revision of a previous decompression and/or laminectomy where there is unilateral radiculopathy that could be associated with micro instability.
• For use in patients that are at high risk of pseudoarthrosis (Smoking history; previously failed fusion; osteoporosis; concurred medical illness; etc)
• Moderate correction of coronal plane deformity

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