CONDUIT vs. PEEK Cages

Direct lateral interbody fusion (DLIF) is a powerful surgical tool in a spine surgeon's armamentarium to address lumbar spine pathology minimally invasively. It has been widely adopted amongst spine surgeons to gain access to the lumbar disc through a small incision on a patient's flank. Through a retroperitoneal approach, the surgeon can perform discectomy, prep end plates, and insert an interbody cage with a much longer (lateral-medial) and wider (anterior-posterior) footprint than posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). Using either transpsoas or anterior-to-psoas (ATP) technique, the surgeons are now able to address lumbar spine pathologies affecting L2 to S1 minimally invasively. Both approaches are acceptable and widely adopted amongst spine surgeons. There are many commercially available FDA-approved DLIF cages in market for spine surgeons to use. The cages made of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and titanium are most commonly used. Many surgeons who use PEEK cages in DLIF supplement the construct with recombinant human bone morphogenic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) to achieve fusion. PEEK has an inert and hydrophobic property which does not induce osteogenesis. In-vitro studies demonstrate absence of bone formation through PEEK. By adding rhBMP-2, it may induce robust osteoinduction around PEEK, achieving fusion across disk space over time. On the other hand, porous titanium has all three properties: osteoconductivity, osteoinductivity, and osseointegration. This may create a more favorable environment for fusion, which obviates the need for rhBMP-2 supplementation. Both types of cages are approved for the study's indications and are routinely used in DLIF at Penn. The surgical staff is qualified to implant both devices.

Aside from the type of cage used, subjects' DLIF procedures will not be altered for the purposes of the study. There are no known differences in the risks and benefits of the two cages being studied. Cage choice in routine care is based on each individual surgeon's standard-of-care preference. As such, there is a possibility of the patient getting either of these cages placed, should they choose to not participate in the study.

Inclusion criteria

• • Patients with one to two consecutive level lumbar degenerative disease from L2to S1, including Grade 1 (<25%) Spondylolisthesis

• Patients undergoing direct lateral interbody fusion (transpsoas or anterior-to-psoas approach) for lumbar disease
• Skeletally mature patients, aged 18 and older
• Patients able to fully comply with the clinical protocol and adhere to the follow-up schedule and protocol requirements
• Patients able to understand and sign the study-specific, IRB approved informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

• • Spondylolisthesis greater than Grade 1

• Traumatic lumbar disease
• Spinal Deformity

• Coronal Cobb angle greater than 40 degrees
• Severe sagittal imbalance
• Existing fusion construct longer than 2 consecutive levels
• Active infection - systemic or local
• Tumor diagnosis
• Untreated osteoporosis, defined as T Spine < -2.5 on DEXA scan
• Active smoking habit
• Current incarceration
• Pregnancy
• Involvement in an active spinal litigation