DePuy Synthes Spine introduces new lower back implant that promotes fusion, restores function

Oct 31 2016

Today DePuy Synthes Spine, Part of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies, launched the SYNFIX^® Evolution System, a new implant for stand-alone Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF). The SYNFIX Evolution System delivers biomechanical stability to promote fusion and restore function, coupled with instrumentation designed to optimize surgical workflow. The System offers a broad range of implant options to accommodate a variety of patient anatomies.

The use of stand-alone ALIF, in which the spine is accessed through the abdomen, is growing at a rate of three percent each year globally thanks to reduced complication rates compared to fusion surgery performed through the patient’s back. Multiple studies of SYNFIX^® Implant technology show that it provides superior biomechanical stability compared to other stand-alone ALIF implants and equivalent biomechanical stability relative to lumbar fusion performed through the back.

“Biomechanical stability in an implant is paramount,” said Alexandre Rasouli, MD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “It is the difference between a single stage surgery and a more involved multi-stage surgery that can increase complications and drive up costs.”

The SYNFIX Evolution System consists of a PEEK spacer coupled with a titanium zero-profile plate and four divergent locking screws, which create a wedge of bone that helps anchor the implant during the healing process. The range of implant options allows the surgeon to accommodate varying patient anatomies and restores spine balance. The SYNFIX Evolution System increases surgical efficiency by reducing the number of instruments and increasing screw insertion speed. The SYNFIX Evolution System design team engineered an innovative thread lock sleeve to capture the screw to the screwdriver, preventing the screw from becoming disengaged during surgery.

“DePuy Synthes has been a leader in providing solutions for stand-alone ALIF procedures for more than a decade, and we are committed to investing in this market to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our customers and patients,” said Dan Wildman, Platform Leader, DePuy Synthes Spine. “The launch of the SYNFIX Evolution System shows that we continue to respond to our customers by developing a product that is easy to use while helping improve operating room efficiency.”