Description
The PathFinder NXT System consists of polyaxial cannulated screws and rods and is intended to provide temporary stabilization following surgery to fuse the spine. A range of spinal rod lengths included with PathFinder NXT allows the surgeon to place polyaxial pedicle screws through an open or mini-open procedure.
The PathFinder NXT System is designed to aid in the surgical correction of several types of spinal conditions. This system is intended only to provide stabilization during the development of a solid fusion with autograft or allograft. These implants are intended to be removed after the development of a solid fusion mass.
Refer to the PathFinder NXT Minimally Invasive Pedicle Screw System Indications for Use for complete information on the PathFinder NXT System. The PathFinder NXT System only allows the placement of 5.5 mm titanium rods.
Refer to the PathFinder NXT Surgical Technique Manual for instructions on implantation.
Indications
PathFinder NXT System – mini-open posterior approach
- When intended for pedicle screw fixation from T1 – S1, the indications include immobilization and stabilization of spinal segments in skeletally mature patients as an adjunct to fusion in the treatment of the following acute and chronic instabilities or deformities of the thoracic, lumbar and sacral spine: degenerative disc disease (defined as discogenic back pain with degeneration of the disc confirmed by history and radiographic studies), degenerative spondylolisthesis with objective evidence of neurologic impairment, fracture, dislocation, deformities or curvatures (i.e. scoliosis, kyphosis, and/or lordosis), tumor and failed previous fusion.
- As a pedicle screw system placed between L3 and S1, the indications include Grade 3 or Grade 4 spondylolisthesis, when utilizing autograft or allograft, when affixed to the posterior lumbosacral spine, and intended to be removed after the solid fusion is established.
Contraindications
- Disease conditions which have been shown to be safely and predictably managed without the use of internal fixation devices are relative contraindications to the use of these devices.
- Active systemic infection or infection localized to the site of the proposed implantation are contraindications to implantation.
- Severe osteoporosis is a relative contraindication because it may prevent adequate fixation of spinal anchors and thus preclude the use of this or any other posterior spinal instrumentation system.
- Any entity or condition that totally precludes the possibility of fusion, i.e. cancer, kidney dialysis or osteopenia, is a relative contraindication. Other relative contraindications include obesity, pregnancy, certain degenerative disease, and foreign body sensitivity. In addition, the patient’s occupation or activity level or mental capacity may be relative contraindications to this surgery. Specifically, some patients may, because of their occupation or lifestyle, or because of conditions such as mental illness, alcoholism or drug abuse, place undue stresses on the implant.