Biomet Debuts New Lateral Fusion Spinal System

Officials with Biomet Spine LLC, a subsidiary of Biomet Inc., reported the completion of the first surgery using the company’s new Timberline modular plate fixation (MPF) hyperlordotic lateral fusion system, a modular plating and hyperlordotic spacer system designed to help facilitate acute sagittal correction via the lateral approach when used in conjunction with supplemental fixation.

The Timberline system is the first of its kind formally cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the lateral approach, the company claims.

Paul Holman, M.D., successfully conducted the first surgery using the new system on Monday, October 20th at the Houston Methodist Spine Center in Houston, Texas.

“The Timberline MPF hyperlordotic system is a fantastic addition to Biomet’s Modular Plate Fixation System, allowing surgeons to achieve excellent sagittal balance restoration via a minimally invasive approach in adult deformity applications,” Holman said. “Biomet’s new system also provides instrumentation to release the anterior longitudinal ligament, which facilitates increased segmental lordosis.”

The Timberline MPF system features three different screw plate solutions that can be attached to a variety of lateral intervertebral spacers, including the newly cleared Timberline MPF hyperlordotic spacer. The Timberline MPF hyperlordotic system features 20- and 30-degree lordotic spacers in a 22-millimeter-wide footprint.

This new hyperlordotic spacer allows surgeons to facilitate increased sagittal correction in several clinical applications, including deformity correction and complex pathologies of the lumbar spine. The system can be implanted using the Timberline lateral retractor system, which affords surgeons excellent intraoperative flexibility with its three-blade infinite resolution retraction mechanism, radiolucency allowing optimal visualization, and an integrated intradiscal shim which allows for deployment while the dilators are still in position.

Jim Cloar, General Manager of Global Spine at Biomet, said: “Lateral access surgery is changing the landscape of deformity treatment options. The Timberline MPF hyperlordotic system has the potential to allow more surgeons to treat difficult pathology in a less invasive manner and to offer a more cost effective solution. The ability for a surgeon to make intraoperative decisions regarding spacer and fixation needs, and assemble the construct in situ when needed, is a distinct advantage over other available solutions.”

The system also will be featured at the upcoming North American Spine Society Annual Meeting in San Francisco, Calif., on Nov. 12-15, Booth #1429.

Warsaw, Ind.-based Biomet makes hip and knee reconstructive products; sports medicine, extremities and trauma products; spine, bone healing and microfixation products; dental reconstructive products; and cement, biologics and other products.