Highlights
- •Carbon fiber reinforced (CFR)-PEEK implants have been developed for spinal fixation in oncological disease.
- •CFR-PEEK implants constitute a feasible and effective way to restore stability as standard titanium.
- •Further studies are needed to clarify their potentially enormous oncological advantagess.
Abstract
In spinal oncology traditional titanium implants could significantly impair evaluation
of postoperative imaging because of artifacts, potentially affecting proper planning
and execution of radiotherapy and adequate radiological follow-up to rule out progression
of the disease. This is why carbon fiber reinforced (CFR)-PEEK implants have been
developed for spinal fixation. The advantages of this system include fewer artifacts
on imaging, potentially improving the execution and quality of radiotherapy, with
also a reduced scattering effect to neighboring tissues.
A comparative clinical and radiological study between new CFR-PEEK and standard titanium
implants is described. Data recorded for each case included patient demographics,
clinical, radiological and surgical data, intra- and postoperative complications,
follow-up information. The goal of this study was to verify the safety and effectiveness
of CFR-PEEK devices compared to standard titanium implants.
A total number of 78 patients were reviewed. 36 patients underwent CFR-PEEK fixation,
while titanium implants were used for 42 patients. Functional recovery was obtained
in both groups and registered at last follow-up in terms of axial pain and neurological
status. No significative differences were found between the two groups in terms of
post-operative clinical complications and hardware-related complications.
CFR-PEEK implants constitute a feasible and effective way to restore stability in
metastatic spine tumors. This study found a non inferior favorable profile in terms
of intraoperative and postoperative complications and functional recovery, compared
to titanium. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify the potential oncological
advantage of their radiolucency.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 12, 2020
Accepted:
March 8,
2020
Received:
January 4,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
