Bioactive Implants in Cervical Spine Injury aOriginal Research (From 1995 To 2011)
Objectives: The paper deals with the development and clinical evaluation of a new bioactive implant designed for anterior cervical interbody fusion (ACIF) in the surgical treatment of unstable injury in subaxial part of cervical spine (type A2, 3 and B3 fractures according to Aebi and Nazarian classification). Significance of the topic: In the middle of the nineties of the last century the glass-ceramic prosthesis BAS-0 made it possible to gain the first experiences in materials replacing allografts for ACIF. Its major disadvantage lay in insufficient resistance. Given these complications, we searched for a stronger material while maintaining the bioactive properties of the glass-ceramics. Bioactive titanium with a special surface treatment by the company LASAK proved to be such a material. New Implant suitable for ACIF was developed in the year 2003. This type was introduced into clinical practice in 2004 after experimental mathematical verification of the design and cadaver testing. Brief methodology: The new implant has a basic shape of a full truncated prism narrowed by 1 degree towards the spinal canal; its length is 13-15 mm with a graded height of 8-5 mm and width of 13 mm. We have used this implant successfully in the treatment of patients with cervical spine injury in unstable fractures. It was indicated the anterior decompression of the spinal canal with interbody fusion together with plate systems. Results: During the years 2006 – 2011 we operated 26 patients with unstable fractures in subaxial cervical spine. We performed successful surgery using new bioactive titanium implant in 12 patients. The outcomes were evaluated according to the standard criteria used in this kind of operations (clinical scoring schemes, radiological imaging) with a follow-up of at least 1 year. Conclusion: When comparing the operation techniques using different types of implants to our implants we found one significant difference. Thanks to the new shape and bioactive properti
