Facet Arthroplasty: Spinal Elements Zyre™ 1st Implant by Dr. Bertagnoli

[Slackwater]

There is null data set on the product on their website. It says IDE, no pics, words, ..., so ..., go to this web site if you have time / bandwidth to burn. Link to SpinalElements, requires Flash.


Reuters News

Spinal Elements(TM) Announces Successful Completion of Landmark Spine Surgery
Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:13pm EST


Zyre(TM) Facet Implant System Provides a Minimally-Invasive,
Motion-Preserving Option for Patients with Chronic Back Pain

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(Business Wire)--Spinal Elements announced today that the first implantation of
their highly-anticipated Zyre Facet Implant System in December 2007
was a success. It is the first arthroplasty system developed
specifically to address facet joint pain.

Pioneer spine surgeon Rudolf Bertagnoli, M.D. performed the
minimally-invasive, tissue-sparing procedure, which directly addresses
the small facet joints present in every level of the spine. Top
surgeons, Carl Lauryssen, M.D., of Tower Orthopedics in Beverly Hills,
CA and Scott Kitchel, M.D., of Orthopedic Spine Associates in Eugene,
Oregon, assisted in the procedure. It is the first of a set of
surgeries being performed in Germany to evaluate the Zyre system
performance.

"This procedure represents a breakthrough in the treatment of
chronic back pain," said Dr. Bertagnoli. "The technology provides a
large population of patients living with chronic facet pain with an
alternative to fusion or reliance on perpetual conservative treatments
such as injections and manipulation."

....

Slackwater_SF

[sharman]

Great news. There have been artificial facets implanted before, and that have the IDE mark in Europe, but (while the company website says it is designed for a number of indications including facet degeneration), those uses/studies so far have all been for stenosis caused by facet hypertrophy.

I'm assuming, but it would be nice to see confirmation, that this prosthetic is designed to be used with artificial discs (albeit, such use not yet tested or allowed). That will be a huge breakthrough, when that technology is available for patients with post-ADR facet damage, or patients who otherwise would be ruled out for ADR because of facet issues

[Harrison]

Sharman, to your point about "that this prosthetic is designed to be used with artificial discs," Archus is already working on this design...if not already there.

Steve, thanks for posting this. (PS: let's catch up soon...had trouble contacting you via email).

[Terry]

This is fabulous news. With some who have developed facet issues after ADR surgery this could be a breakthrough.

This could give hope to many who are still experiencing pain after expected relief from ADR surgery.

Hopefully this technology will become readily available instead of far in the future.

Any ideas how long it will take to get on the open market and used regularly. Even if it is just in Europe now that will not stop the many of us who have been there already.

Terry Newton