One of the most important advances in the treatment of diseases caused by wear and tear of the spine has recently arrived in Spain. It is a spine stabilization system that allows the patient’s mobility to be preserved. Together with the German neurosurgeon, Michael Pfeiffer, with whom we had already implanted this system previously, we began to use this innovative system in Spain. In Europe we had already had the opportunity to use this state-of-the-art system in joint interventions and now it has already been used successfully in two patients in our country.
The system
The system consists of titanium screws that are placed in the pedicles of the vertebrae and its particularity are plastic profiled rods that are attached to these screws, which allow flexibility and, therefore, mobility. This material and the pioneering technique used for its implantation make it possible to stabilize the corresponding section of the spinal column, freeing it from part of its load and ensuring a hitherto unknown posterior mobility.
This is a revolution, since with the technique applied up to now, the affected spinal column section is permanently and irreversibly stiffened, the system that will be used from now on as usual allows an adequate stabilization but without completely annulling the mobility.
The benefits
In this way, important structures of the spinal apparatus are kept active in the system, but safe from overload peaks. In fact, the treated segment can practically recover its original function without additional overloading of neighboring segments. In addition, this procedure is very minimally invasive and preserves the structures themselves for a long time and would allow the option of a subsequent definitive stiffening if necessary. A real breakthrough in the treatment of diseases resulting from wear and tear of the spine.