Spinal System Provides A Side-Loading Alternative For Spinal Surgery

Memphis, TN - Medtronic, Inc. announced U.S. market availability of TSRH(R) SiLo(TM) 5.5 Spinal System, a set of rods and screws for use in trauma, tumor and deformity surgery. It is the first time Medtronic has offered a side-loading system enabling sagittal adjusting capability to spinal surgeons.

The TSRH SiLo 5.5 Spinal System Sagittal Adjusting Screws (SAS) combine the correction of a fixed angle screw with the flexibility of a multi-axial screw, reducing the stress incurred on the bone during correction maneuvers. The side-loading aspect gives surgeons another option when it comes to translational correction and rod reduction. The TSRH SiLo Spinal System also allows preloading of implant screw sets and simplified provisional rod capture.

The TSRH SiLo 5.5 Spinal System also features a one-handed Rock and Roll Reducer, a device that allows surgeons to use one hand in securing rods to pedicle screws and provides greater reduction than current systems. Currently, some side-loading systems require two surgeons to reduce the spinal rods into the screw settings prior to tightening.

"The TSRH SiLo 5.5 Spinal system is a versatile and easy-to-use side-loading screw system," said Dr. Johannes Bernbeck with Kaiser Permanente in Baldwin Park, Calif. "The side-loading feature allows very powerful reduction maneuvers for scoliosis. The combination of poly-axial, fixed and sagittal adjusting screws allows precise reduction in all planes."

TSRH SiLo Spinal 5.5 System received 510(k) clearance in 2005 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in thoracolumbar spine surgery as a posterior trauma and deformity system.

SOURCE: Medtronic, Inc.