CHARLOTTE, NC – December 2, 2010 – DePuy Spine, Inc., a global leader in spinal care, today announced the launch of the MOUNTAINEER® Laminoplasty System of implants and instruments for posterior
decompression of the cervical spine. The Company made the announcement here at the 38th Annual Meeting of the Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS), where it will feature its portfolio of solutions for spine disorders.
The MOUNTAINEER Laminoplasty System is intended for use in the lower cervical and upper thoracic spine (C3 to T3).1 Laminoplasty procedures are intended to treat spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal
that puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots and can cause chronic pain, weakness and numbness in the shoulders, arms and legs. It often occurs as a result of aging and is most common among patients over age 50.2
For patients with severe or progressive symptoms, laminoplasty can help relieve pressure on the spinal cord by partially cutting and repositioning the lamina to create more space for the spinal cord and nerve endings.
Laminoplasty is an alternative to laminectomy, which involves the removal of the lamina, a layer of bone that provides support and protection for the backside of the spinal cord.
“DePuy Spine developed the MOUNTAINEER Laminoplasty System to systematically address some of the challenges that may be encountered during laminoplasty,” said Frank Phillips, MD,* Professor of Orthopaedic
Surgery and Director, Section of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL. “The new system enables spine surgeons to maintain a secure grasp of the implant, drill and insert screws prior to creating the laminoplasty, and has plating options that address anatomic differences among patients.”
The MOUNTAINEER Laminoplasty System has a “dove-tail feature” on the plate that allows for a secure, flush fit attachment to the instruments. Notches on the allograft provide secure attachment points and tabs prevent
the holder from migrating into the canal. Another feature is the open ended plate that allows for both a traditional and a “screw-first technique,” where the lamina screws may be inserted prior to creating the hinge. Finally, the MOUNTAINEER Laminoplasty System offers three different plate options including inline, inline side-by-side and hinge. Allograft spacers are designed to fit the anatomy and attach to multiple plate sizes.
The laminoplasty system is the latest addition to DePuy Spine’s MOUNTAINEER line, which includes the MOUNTAINEER® Occipito-Cervico-Thoracic Spinal System, an integrated solution of rods, plates and
screws for rigid posterior fixation of the occipito-cervico-thoracic regions of the spine. This system enables the surgeon to design the spine construct based on intraoperative developments and individual patient anatomy.
