Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Graftech^® Cervical Spacer?



• The Graftech^® Cervical Spacer is processed from dense, cancellous allograft tissue, unlike present cervical structural grafts processed from cortical bone. Dense, cancellous bone may promote earlier incorporation with adjacent endplates while supporting loads applied through the cervical spine.
  
  
• Additionally, the dense, cancellous matrix allows the surgeon to infuse the graft with Grafton^® DBM, introducing osteoinductivity to the porous matrix of the graft.
  
  
• Graftech^® structural allografts are non-frozen for ease of handling and availability.
  
  
• The Graftech^® Cervical Spacer instrument system provides simple instrumentation for precise height measurements and smooth insertion.
  
  
  
2. Are the Graftech^® Cervical Spacers strong enough for ACDF surgery?



• Compressive strength of the Graftech^® Cervical Spacer is within the range of allograft products typically used in the cervical spine.
  
  
• Strength of the Graftech^® Cervical Spacer is within the range of normal loads on the cervical spine as reported in the literature.
  
  
• Osteotech carefully selects the densest cancellous bone in order to improve the strength of the Graftech^® Cervical Spacer over standard cancellous base tissue.
  
  
• When used with a plate, the loads subjected to the Graftech^® Cervical Spacers are significantly less than when used alone.
  
  
  
3. How are the Graftech^® Cervical Spacers processed?



• Aseptically processed and machined from dense, cancellous bone
  
  
• Recovered from areas of the densest cancellous bone in its anatomically loaded orientation (proximal and distal femur, proximal and distal tibia, patella, calcaneus, talus)
  
  
  
4. What are the shapes and sizes of the Graftech^® Cervical Spacers?



• Consistent, uniform, rectangular shape for maximum surface contact area
  
  
• Symmetrical geometry vs. unsymmetrical geometry of fibular wedges
  


• 9 heights: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13mm



• 2 widths: 11mm (for 5,6,7,8,9 mm heights only), 13mm (all heights)



• 1 depth: 11mm
  
  
  
5. What is the design rationale behind the Graftech^® Cervical Spacer?


To provide the surgeon with an interbody graft that:


• promotes early incorporation with the endplates



• will be completely remodeled over time



• has a similar modulus of elasticity as the endplates



• provides structural integrity where it is needed



• supports loads of the cervical spine



• restores and maintains sagittal balance



• restores and maintains disc space height and foraminal openings
  
  
• maintains post-operative imaging clarity




6. What are the applications for the Graftech^® Cervical Spacers?



• Usually 1 spacer per level
  
  
• Primary objective is to restore and maintain disc height and foraminal openings
  
  
• Secondary objective is to achieve arthrodesis
  
  
• Removal of so-called "pain-generator" when disc is removed
  
  
• Used with partial or total discectomy