Stryker Spine's 3D-printed, porous Tritanium cages led to greater bone in-growth than plasma-sprayed, porous titanium-coated PEEK and traditional PEEK cages after lumbar fusion, according to an animal model study in The Spine Journal.
Here are three things to know:
1. The study compared different interbody implant materials for spinal fusion in 27 skeletally mature sheep.
2. Compared to the PEEK cages, the Tritanium cages showed significantly greater total bone volume within the graft window at eight and 16 weeks after fusion.
3. The Tritanium cages were the only cages that led to a decrease in range of motion and an increase in stiffness across all three loading directions between eight and 16 weeks.
"The results of this study provide an evidence-based approach to decision making regarding interbody materials for spinal fusion, as there is significant variability in the materials commonly used for interbody cages in spine surgery," said UC San Francisco orthopedic spine surgeon Sigurd H. Berven, MD. "The study showed the potential for bone in-growth into and around the Tritanium cages."