Here are three advancements in spinal fusions that spine and orthopedic leaders should know:
Advancements in machine learning
"Recent advances in machine learning have allowed us to harness the power of predictive modeling in planning the outcome of surgical correction in children with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis," Afshin Aminian, MD, pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Children's Hospital of Orange County in Orange, Calif., told Becker's. "This collaboration is between the surgeon and an engineer, with each offering their expertise to improve the outcome of instrumented posterior spinal fusion for the treatment of children with spinal deformity.
"The initial data gathered from the preoperative planning with the design of custom pre-contoured implants showed improvement in the restoration of appropriate alignment, such as thoracic kyphosis," Dr. Aminian said. "Further studies on the use of machine learning and predictive modeling have shown very encouraging results in the accurate prediction of postoperative alignment in the compensatory segments that are not instrumented. This has further allowed precise, patient-specific custom implant design with pre-contoured rods and proper sagittal alignment restoration in children with spinal deformities."
First case using OneLIF interbody spinal fusion system on a laterally-positioned patient
NovApproach Spine completed its first case using its OneLIF interbody spinal fusion system on a laterally positioned patient.
The procedure was completed by John Liu, MD, a neurosurgery professor and co-director of the University of Southern California Spine Center in Los Angeles.
Personalized cervical spinal fusion implants
Carlsmed is developing patient-specific cervical spinal fusion implants. Its Aprevo cervical fusion implant is expected to launch in 2025.
The development is made possible due to the company raising $52.5 million in series C funding. The funding was co-led by B Capital and U.S. Venture Partners.