Instrument Set for
endoscopic monitored
transforaminal interbody fusion
Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a surgical procedure used to treat various spinal conditions such as herniated discs, degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis. During the procedure, an implant is inserted into the intervertebral space with the goal of maintaining the distance between the vertebral bodies and stabilizing the vertebral segment. Bone growth and ingrowth of the implant creates a solid bone between adjacent vertebrae.
A precondition for successful ingrowth is the preparation of the intervertebral space.
Unintech has developed a technique as well as instruments to clear the intervertebral space endoscopically monitored for cage implantation.
Technical features
EndoTLIF instrument set is a supplement to the EndoSurg Plus system. It is designed and developed for endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion. The set contains all instruments for disc space preparation. The procedure is endoscopic guided and can be done with most implants (up to 14 mm) and the surgeon can use the preferred implant.
- The preparation of the disc space is done after endoscopic access and decompression.
- Access to the disc space and preparation the disc space follows the microsurgical technique.
- The sets contain all instruments for preparation of the disc space under endoscopic view.
- The instruments are compatible with almost all TLIF cages, so that the surgeon can do the fusion with the preferred implant.
Technical refinements
"Numerous technical refinements to ultraminimally invasive approaches have occurred since their initial use, which has resulted in substantial clinical benefit for patients that remains stable over time." Brusko GD, Wang MY.
Endoscopic Lumbar Interbody Fusion.
Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2020 Jan;31(1):,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nec.2019.08.002
Principal steps of the procedure
- Access to disc space – after full-endoscopic facetectomy
- Preparing disc space with endoscopic rasp
- Changing working tube for usage of bigger instruments
- Preparing disc space with endoscopic chisel
- Preparing disc space with endoscopic curette 90°
- Refilling the disc space with bone fragments or artificial bone subsitute
- Cage placement through working tube - with its own inserter instrument
Endoscopic assisted transforaminal interbody fusion
Endoscopic-assisted lumbar interbody fusion is one of the recent surgical innovations in the field of endoscopic spine surgery.
Endoscopic lumbar interbody fusions are increasingly used to treat lumbar degenerative disease in a minimally invasive approach that minimizes pain and maximizes outcomes.
For the endoscopic guided preparation of the intervertebral disc space, different instruments in different sizes are available. Many of them are used in the unique unintech Tube-in-Tube technique.