The 35 Minute Micro-Invasive TLIF

In an arena of rapid technological advancement, it takes an innovation powerhouse to design products that can disrupt the spine industry. Life Spine, a manufacturer of spinal implants that launched 27 products in 2016, has revolutionized the TLIF taking it from a 90+ minute minimally invasive procedure to a micro-invasive procedure that has been completed in as little as 25 minutes.

 Surgeons like Zeshan Hyder, D.O. of the Bone and Joint Specialists of Northwest Indiana are executing up to six of these procedures in one day. The potential benefits of a drastic reduction in procedural time are directly realized by surgeons and their patients. The system is designed to offer the benefits of:

  •  Less time in the hospital and OR leading to faster recovery

  • Reduced incision size and less muscle retraction

  •  A safer surgery and a more reproducible procedure

  •  Lower potential costs 

 “Before expandable cages, you would have to make an incision large enough for the size of the implant needed, which would require removal of excess bone and retraction of nerves. This could lead to nerve pain after surgery and potential nerve damage.”-  Dr. Zeshan Hyder

 Traditional TLIF procedures can take up to six hours. Six hours of muscle retraction, anesthesia, blood loss and fatigue to the hospital staff. Additionally, longer the operating time can lead to fewer patients a surgeon can operate on and increase the cost of surgery. Each minute in the OR costs $62 on average, making a six-hour TLIF about 10x the cost of a micro-invasive TLIF. 

 “The reduced need for sequential trialing and instrument passes to prepare for the placement of PROLIFT, decreases my operating time. The system also features a torque-limiting driver that prevents over distracting of the disc space and possibly forcing the device thru the vertebral body endplate, which makes it a safe option for my patients.”- Dr. Zeshan Hyder

 The Life Spine TLIF Retractor used for access features independent angulating blades and modular taps, which anchor to the pedicles and allow for optimal disc space distraction. The system creates ample access to the working space through minimized incisions.

 “With this procedure you are not disturbing the spinal elements and have reduced tissue damage and risk of injury to the nerves, which also means less postoperative pain for the patient.”- Dr. Zeshan Hyder

 There are many reasons that surgeons like Dr. Hyder are utilizing the Life Spine technologies that afford a faster, micro-invasive TLIF, but the main reason is the patient.

“Think of it like putting a ship inside a bottle. You can cut the bottle, put the ship in and glue it (that is kind of the old way), or you can build the ship inside the bottle, piece by piece protecting the fragile glass and saving time.”– Dr. Zeshan Hyder