Medtronic introduces cervical surgery technique

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Dec. 6, 2012 – Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) the world leader in spinal technology, announced the U.S. launch of the company’s latest addition to their cervical surgical technique portfolio. The announcement was made at the 40th annual meeting of the Cervical Spine Research Society.The CERVICAL FACETLIFTSM ID/S surgical technique is an innovative procedure that indirectly decompresses the neural foramen and stabilizes the cervical spine. This technique is accomplished by placing structured allograft spacers, CORNERSTONE® Facet MicroGrafts, into the posterior cervical (neck) facet joints. The system is comprised of a small set of surgical instrumentation that will aid in the preparation of the facet joints and for the placement of the grafts into the joints. The technique increases the volumetric area of the exiting nerve root that may be compressed causing a neurological deficit.1 In addition, this technique may reduce the bending direction of the cervical spine.2 This reduction in bending may assist in fusion following supplemental fixation such as the VERTEX SELECT® Reconstruction System when used to treat DDD (neck pain of discogenic origin with degeneration of the disc confirmed by history and radiographic studies), spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, fracture, dislocation, failed previous fusion and/or tumors. These results were shown in biomechanical studies and may vary in human clinical outcomes.