What is Spinal Instrumentation and Spinal Fusion?

Spinal Instrumentation utilizes surgical procedures to implant Titanium, Titanium-alloy, Stainless Steel, or non-metallic devices into the spine. Instrumentation provides a permanent solution to spinal instability. Medical implants are specially designed to come in many shapes and sizes. Typically these include rods, hooks, braided cable, plates, screws, and more recently - threaded interbody cages.

Spinal Fusion is a process using bone graft to cause two opposing bony surfaces to grow together. In medical terminology, this is called Arthrodesis. Bone graft can be taken from the patient's pelvis (termed autogenous bone) during the primary surgical procedure or harvested from other individuals (termed allograft bone). Another option for some patients is Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP). BMP stimulates the body to make bone.

Examples of Different Types of Spinal Instrumentation

Instrumentation and Fusion Working Together
Instrumentation maintains spinal stability while facilitating the process of fusion. These procedures are used to restore stability to the spine, correct deformity (such as scoliosis), and bridge space created by the removal of a spinal element (e.g. intervertebral disc).

Both procedures immobilize the involved spinal level(s). This does not necessarily mean the patient is unable to move (e.g. bend over). Many patients state they actually feel more mobile because their pain has been reduced or eliminated.

Examples of Different Types of Spinal Instrumentation

An Old Concept Made New
Spinal instrumentation and fusion are not new surgical concepts. Although the first spinal fusion was performed almost 90 years ago, Dr. Paul Harrington developed spinal instrumentation in the late 1950's.

During this time, many children stricken with polio developed spinal deformities. In an attempt to treat these children, Dr. Harrington developed the first spinal instrumentation system (Harrington Instrumentation). Rods were secured to the spine at two ends using hooks. The position of the spine was adjusted using a tackling type of device. Through Dr. Harrington's experience, fusion was discovered to be a necessary adjunct to instrumentation. Today, fusion remains an integral part of procedures utilizing instrumentation.

Examples of Different Types of Spinal Instrumentation

Technology and Technique
Progress During the 1960's instrumentation became more mainstream as doctors, who saw the benefits to patients, found almost 50 ways to modify Harrington's original system. Bone screws and threaded cabling were developed. In the 1970's, Dr. Eduardo Luque was using smooth bendable rods and wire to stabilize the spine. Moving into the 1980's instrumentation evolved into a three-dimensional approach to spinal correction. Rods, hooks, and screws were streamlined to meet individual patient needs with less demand on the surgeon to customize implants on the spot.

Today and Tomorrow
During the last 10 years, spinal instrumentation systems have been consistently transformed to meet the demands of spine specialists who are true visionaries in this specialized field of surgery. This trend will most certainly continue to provide new and innovative solutions for disorders involving the spine.