NuVasive’s Porous PEEK Spinal Implant Demonstrates Improved Osseointegration, Fusion Rates

NuVasive Inc., a company focused on transforming spine surgery with minimally disruptive, procedurally-integrated solutions, today announced the results of the study “Early Outcomes of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Using Porous PEEK Interbody Fusion Device,” published online in the Journal of Spine & Neurosurgery, which concluded that NuVasive patented porous polyetheretherketone (PEEK) technology is a clinically viable alternative for improving osseointegration and fusion rates of interbody implants to treat degenerative cervical disc disease.¹
 
In the study, 50 patients (31 women and 19 men) with an average age of 60 with degenerative cervical disc disease underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion using a Cohere cervical interbody fusion device from NuVasive—with 100 percent of participants experiencing positive results.
 
Cohere provides a unique three-dimensional Porous PEEK architecture to help elicit and encourage bone ingrowth without compromising implant strength. NuVasive incorporated the technology, which had been validated with 10 years of scientific research, into its portfolio with its acquisition of Vertera Spine in September 2017.
 
“This interbody fusion device with Porous PEEK surface technology provided improved osseointegration and supported spinal fusion in single level and multi-level cervical fusions,” said Dr. J. Kenneth Burkus of the Hughston Clinic in Columbus, Ga. “Twelve-month clinical outcomes have demonstrated the efficacy and stability of the Cohere Porous PEEK interbody device and shown that it is a clinically viable implant alternative for achieving successful clinical and radiological outcomes in cervical spine fusion surgery, particularly in multi-level or revision surgeries where fusion rates are lower.”
 
During the course of the clinical study, there were 11 1-level, 23 2-level and 16 3-level fusions between C3 and C7. Patients came from all walks of life and with various comorbidities. Thirteen of them had previously had an unsuccessful anterior cervical fusion procedure. It is notable that all patients who had revision surgery with Cohere achieved fusion six months after the surgery.
 
At 12 months post-operative ACDF surgery, all 50 patients demonstrated improved motion, decreased neck pain and average disc height increased by more than 4 mm. In addition, each of them showed radiographic fusion.
 
“NuVasive is the only company in the industry able to offer Porous PEEK technology so that surgeons can deliver life-changing clinical outcomes,” said Matt Link, executive vice president, strategy, technology and corporate development for NuVasive. “The fact that all 50 patients in the clinical study experienced fusion is a testament to the enhanced osseointegration as well as biomechanical and imaging properties of Cohere and Porous PEEK technology, the entire NuVasive Advanced Materials Science™ portfolio, which also includes Modulus titanium interbody implants, represents the future of porous implant technologies.”

Find more information on the study here.
 
Reference
¹ Burkus, J. (2018). Early outcomes of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion using porous PEEK interbody fusion device. Journal of Spine & Neurosurgery. Doi: 10.4172/2325-9701.1000295