The Unity+ system consists of a body manufactured from PEEK-OPTIMA, with two titanium-alloy imaging markers bilaterally, a titanium-alloy lateral screw plate with four tapered locking thread screw holes, and four locking bone-anchoring screws (two for each vertebra); the two posterior screws are parallel, while the two anterior screws are angled anteriorly. The device also incorporates two large bone graft windows to accommodate bone graft or synthetic bone inserts.
The Unity+ is anatomically-shaped to fit the lumbar disc space optimally, with three lateral lengths and multiple heights to restore disc height. Surface serrations prevent the device from being displaced between the vertebrae. The device is also provided with a lordotic angle for treatment of lordosis. Large bone graft windows accommodate bone graft or synthetic bone inserts, improving the osseointegration with the endplates. Due to its good ‘bone anchoring’ the Unity+ is often employed as a ‘stand-alone’ fusion device.
Benefits:
- Stable fusion construct using a lateral screw plate (or minimally invasive)
- Low imaging signature provides high quality post-operative MR images
- Multiple heights in four lengths
About LLIF
The Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF) procedure is a minimally disruptive surgical technique in which the surgeon approaches the spine from the side of the patient’s body, rather than the front or back as in traditional spine surgeries. This side (lateral transpsoas) approach can reduce the risk of injury to muscles, nerves, and blood vessels.
The XLIF and DLIF are types Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion, or LLIF, which is a category of fusion in which the disc in the front of the spine is removed and replaced with an implant containing a bone graft to set up the condition for the two vertebrae to fuse together through the disc space.
XLIF uses a minimally invasive, transpsoas approach to the spine. The surgeon uses his or her finger to perform blunt dissection through a posterior paraspinal incision to escort dilators and a guide wire into position directly over the psoas muscle. Using his or her finger the surgeon is able to create a retroperitoneal space and protect the viscera and prevent possible injury.
With the DLIF technique, some surgeons have chosen to perform this procedure through a single miniopen lateral approach without the use of the posterior incision to create the retroperitoneal space. With the single incision, the layers of the abdominal wall are directly visualized, and the retroperitoneal space is created under direct vision with passage of instruments through the psoas. In addition, the use of electrophysiological monitoring, including triggered and freerunning electromyography (EMG), reduces the likelihood of injury to the lumbosacral plexus when accessing the disc space through the psoas muscle. Dilators, which contain insulated tips allow for EMG monitoring as they are introduced via the transpsoas approach to the disc space. If a dilator passes in proximity to the lumbosacral plexus, the surgeon is warned both visibly on a graphic display and also via auditory feedback. The surgeon can then adjust his or her trajectory to reduce the likelihood of neural injury.
About Southern Medical
The Southern Group of bio-technology companies was formed in 1987. Since the group’s inception this dynamic group has concentrated on implant devices conforming to the highest standards of quality and bio-compatibility.The parent company, Southern Implants (Pty) Ltd. develops and manufactures dental implants and associated prosthetic devices. When Southern Implants was established, dental implant science on a worldwide basis was in its infancy. Southern Implants has been one of the pioneers in this field contributing extensively to the enhancements with respect to osseointegration of implant devices, surgical techniques, patient education and options of treatment. Southern Implants is not only the leading dental implant company in South Africa, but is a significant role player in the USA, Europe and Australasia.http://www.southmed.co.za