Through either the natural process of aging or an injury, the spinal disc may weaken, resulting in a herniation. The herniation may occur adjacent to a nerve, resulting in debilitating back or leg pain. The herniation may be removed via a surgical procedure known as a discectomy, which leaves an empty void within the spinal disc. The implantation of BioDisc into this void may prevent or reduce spine instability, preserve disc height, and prevent recurrent disc herniation.
CryoLife,a biomaterials and biosurgical device company, announced that BioDisc(TM) Spinal Disc Repair System, a nucleus pulposus repair device, was successfully implanted in two patients. These patients underwent a discectomy approximately 6 weeks ago, to treat a herniated disc in the lumbar spinal area. The BioDisc implant material was easily delivered into the void space as a simple additional step at the completion of the discectomy procedure. The early clinical course of both patients is proceeding as expected for discectomy patients. These initial two patients are part of a BioDisc feasibility study being conducted in the United Kingdom and the company expects to enroll an additional eight patients in this study over the next several months.
“We are pleased with the early preliminary results in these first BioDisc patients. We believe BioDisc is an innovative treatment that has the potential to benefit thousands of patients who suffer from back and leg pain resulting from herniated discs,” stated Steven G. Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Read the whole CryoLife press release…
