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Improvements seen with PEEK interbody fusion devices for degenerative cervical disc disease
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Investigators found porous-surface PEEK may be an alternative for the improvement of osseointegration and fusion rates of interbody implants to treat patients with degenerative cervical disc disease.
“My clinic study of 50 consecutive patients treated with a porous PEEK cervical implant showed that the unique surface properties of this device supported boney ingrowth and implant fixation,” Kenneth J. Burkus, MD, told Healio.com/Orthopedics. “The porous [polyetheretherketone] PEEK surface technology provided improved osseointegration and supported spinal fusion in single level and multi-level cervical fusions. Twelve-month clinical outcomes demonstrated the efficacy and stability of the porous PEEK device.”
Burkus and colleagues identified 50 consecutive patients with degenerative disc disease who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with a porous PEEK implant and plate. At 1.5, 3, 6 and 12 months patients were evaluated for their condition before and after surgery with standardized outcome measures. Fusion, bony in-growth, subsidence and implant migration was assessed with plain radiographs. Neutral lateral radiographs and Cobb’s criteria were used to measure the sagittal plane angulation. The vertical distance between midpoints of the adjacent vertebra, endplates were used to measure the intradiscal distraction and subsidence.
Results showed the Oswestry Neck Disability Index and neck and arm pain scores improved in all patients 12 months after surgery. Investigators noted all patients showed radiographic fusion at 12 months. On flexion-extension lateral radiographs, none of the patients showed motion across the interspace with no measurable evidence of implant migration or subsidence. The sagittal plane angulation improved to an average of –6°.
According to researchers, there was an increase of more than 4 mm in the average disc space height. None of the patients had measurable radiographic evidence of pseudarthrosis or halo formation around the implant. – by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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