NEUROSPINE

Spinal Surgery

Spinal surgery is performed by neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons in the U.K. and Ireland and Forth have developed a unique portfolio of innovative products to offer ‘the spinal surgeon’ in various elements of this growing surgical specialty.

DuraSeal Xact – a superb tissue sealant and now adhesion barrier featuring all-synthetic polymer technology. Xact sprays on and sets instantly into a flexible but adherent hydrogel that protects and seals the spinal and nerve root dura following lumbar spinal surgery preventing CSF leakage and potentially reducing painful post-operative scar tissue formation.

Anspach High Speed Drill Systems – an increasing number of spinal surgeons are switching on to the benefits of using the precision and finesse of a high speed drill when performing delicate bone dissection in critical areas such as the cervical and lumbar spine. Anspach’s systems are designed to operate smoothly, without ‘kick’ and with a wide range of dedicated cutting burrs and heads which can speed up and simplify spinal operations. See High Speed Drills page and Anspach website for further details of the range.

The Forth Bone Grafting Programme – in spinal surgery, fusion of specific bony levels of the vertebral column is desirable. The use of bone graft to help achieve this is in widespread practice and this area of medical technology has made some significant advances in recent years. Forth’s Bone Graft Programme combines the best in traditional bone graft solutions with the very latest innovations and has a range suitable for all types of spinal surgery. See orthobiologics page for more details.

Adcon – recently acquired by AAP Orthobiologics, Adcon has the longest clinical history of any adhesion control therapy on the market. Adcon is a gel that is implanted immediately prior to closure of the surgical site following lumbar spinal surgery. It is used to coat the dura of the exiting nerve root to prevent the formation of tenacious adhesions or scar that can cause post-operative pain and make re-operation more challenging. Adcon resorbs over time and is well proven to reduce scar tissue, especially useful in revision spine surgery.

DISCOGEL – from Gelscom. Chemonucleolysis for disc herniation has been used succesfully in the U.K. in the past but never with a reliable system for delivery and visualisation of the ‘implant’. Discogel features a tungsten radio-opaque marker to allow precise and controlled placement inside the disc nucleus under fluoroscopic vision. Performed under local anaesthetic, Discogel offers a day-surgery treatment that fills the interventional gap that exists between nerve root block, physiotherapy or rest and more extensive surgery. Find out more about Discogel from Forth Medical and by visiting the Gelscom website at www.gelscom.com