Pedicle Screw System Treats Degenerative Spinal Conditions

An easy-to-use, percutaneous pedicle screw system addresses single, complex, and multilevel lumbar spinal pathologies with minimal tissue disruption and trauma.

The Avance minimally invasive surgery (MIS) Pedicle Screw System is intended for posterior, noncervical pedicle fixation, immobilization and stabilization of spinal segments in skeletally mature patients, as an adjunct to fusion for degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis. The system is also indicated for use in trauma, spinal stenosis, curvatures, tumor, pseudoarthrosis, and failed previous fusion. The system accommodates single level degenerative procedures as well as multilevel, complex pathologies from T1 to S1. The Avance MIS Pedicle Screw System is a product of Baxano Surgical (Raleigh, NC, USA), and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“This FDA clearance represents a significant addition to Baxano Surgical's MIS product portfolio and offers surgeon and hospital customers an additional solution for their lumbar fusion procedures,” said Ken Reali, president and CEO of Baxano Surgical. “Avance will significantly enhance our ability to meet customer needs and gain a stronger foothold in the MIS fusion market.”

“The system provides a percutaneous approach designed to minimize tissue trauma and eliminate additional rod insertion incision,” said Nael Shanti, MD, and Sameer Mathur, MD, the surgeon designers of the Avance system. “The scientific engineering used to design Avance lowers the construct's overall profile, increases intraoperative flexibility, and enhances lock down security.”

Pedicle screws provide a means of gripping a spinal segment. The screws themselves do not fixate the segment, but act as firm anchor points that can then be connected with a rod. The screws are placed at two or three consecutive spine segments and then a short rod is used to connect the screws; this construct prevents motion at the segments that are being fused. After the bone graft grows, the screws and rods are no longer needed for stability and may be safely removed with a subsequent back surgery. However, most surgeons do not recommend removal unless the pedicle screws cause discomfort for the patient.

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