INDEPENDENCE Spacer for Lumbar Fusion

A total of thirty subjects will be enrolled at Scott & White Healthcare. The INDEPENDENCE spacer will be filled with autogenous bone graft material. The devices subject to this Agreement have received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the indications specified in this Agreement.

Patients will be followed for 2 years with evaluations at the following time intervals: preoperatively (within 2 months of surgery) and postoperatively at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months.

Inclusion criteria

• • Objective evidence of degenerative disc disease at 1 or 2 level(s) between L2 and S1 with degeneration confirmed by patient history and radiographic examination

• Experience pain, functional deficit and/or neurological deficit for a minimum of six months
• Unresponsiveness to documented non-surgical treatment modalities for a minimum of six months and/or presentation with progressive symptoms of nerve root or spinal cord compression prior to enrollment
• At least 18 years of age and maximum 65 years of age
• Ability to provide Informed Consent for study participation and to return for all follow-up visits

Exclusion criteria

• • Presence of systemic or localized infection at the site of surgery

• More than 2 levels to be instrumented
• Previous fusion attempt at the involved level(s)
• More than three previous open, posterior, lumbar spinal surgical procedures at the involved level(s)
• Trauma at the level(s) to be fused
• More than grade 1 spondylolisthesis
• Previous documentation of osteopenia, osteoporosis, or osteomalacia to a degree that spinal instrumentation would be contraindicated
• Diagnosis of a condition or requires postoperative medication(s), which may interfere with bony/soft tissue healing
• Presence of a disease entity or condition which totally precludes possibility of bony fusion (e.g. metastatic cancer, HIV, long term use of steroids, etc.)
• Immunosuppressive disorder
• Pregnant or interested in becoming pregnant during the duration of the study
• History of substance abuse (drugs or alcohol)
• Any known allergy to a metal alloy
• Mentally incompetent or prisoner
• Currently a participant in another study