1. Bioresorbable polymer implants in the unilateral transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion procedure.
- Author
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Lowe TG and Coe JD
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Biocompatible Materials, Cohort Studies, Equipment Design, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Intervertebral Disc diagnostic imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Prosthesis Design, Radiography, Spinal Fusion methods, Surgical Instruments, Treatment Outcome, Absorbable Implants, Intervertebral Disc surgery, Lumbar Vertebrae surgery, Polymers pharmacology, Range of Motion, Articular physiology, Spinal Fusion instrumentation
- Abstract
Sixty patients from two centers have undergone instrumented transforaminal posterior lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) with bioresorbable polymer cages and autograft bone for degenerative indications. This article discusses the technique of TLIF and its early outcomes. Although follow-up is short and results are preliminary, no adverse events or complications may be attributed to the bioresorbable polymer. Further multicenter clinical studies are underway with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up chosen as an endpoint to provide insight as to the future of biodegradable polymers as spinal interbody devices.
- Published
- 2002
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