A cage for facilitating fusion of bones, such as vertebrae, or fusion of adjacent bone surfaces is disclosed. In one form, the cage includes a plurality of spaced apart walls comprising a biodegradable polymeric material (e.g., polycaprolactone); an osteoconductive mineral coating (e.g., a calcium compound) on at least a portion of the walls; and a bioactive agent (e.g., a bone morphogenetic protein) associated with the polymeric material and/or the coating. The bioactive agent is present in amount that induces ossification between the bones or adjacent bone surfaces. The cage may also include a fixation plate connected to at least one of the walls.

Methods for altering the natural history of degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the spine are proposed. The methods focus on the prevention, or delayed onset or progression of, subchondral defects such as bone marrow edema or bone marrow lesion, and subchondral treatment to prevent the progression of osteoarthritis or degenerative disc disease in the spine and thereby treat pain.

The present invention relates to a medical bioabsorbable composite having a fibrous ceramic reinforcing agent and a method for preparing the same and, more particularly, to a medical bioabsorbable composite including a fibrous ceramic reinforcing agent including a fibrous ceramic reinforcing agent having a high aspect ratio, wherein the fibrous ceramic reinforcing agent may have a diameter ranging from 10 to 900 nm, and wherein a length to diameter aspect ratio may be equal to or greater than 5, and a method for preparing the same.

A method of delivering a fusion cage to an intervertebral disc space bounded by adjacent vertebral endplates, comprising the step of delivering the fusion cage into the disc space without contacting its teeth to the vertebral endplates during delivery, wherein a sheath is interposed between a cage surface and the endplates to prevent contact therebetween during delivery.

Methods for surgically adjusting a curvature of a spine are disclosed. The methods provide for controlling the alignment of bony structures, such as vertebral bodies or portions thereof, as they are moved relative to one another during a surgical procedure. An intrabody implant disclosed and methods of use are also disclosed. The implant has an inclined surface, forming a wedge or other shape having, for example, an acute angle adapted to be placed between at least two separated portions of a single bony structure (such as a vertebral body). In some embodiments, the implant may be used to support portions of a vertebral body that have been separated surgically as part of a pedicle subtraction osteotomy and to orient the portions at a more predictable lordotic angle.

Methods for altering the natural history of degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the spine are proposed. The methods focus on the prevention, or delayed onset or progression of, subchondral defects such as bone marrow edema or bone marrow lesion, and subchondral treatment to prevent the progression of osteoarthritis or degenerative disc disease in the spine and thereby treat pain.

Provided is a composition for a scaffold having a mineral coating similar to bone. Also provided is a method for mineral coating a scaffold so as to promote mineral coating of the scaffold with a plate-like nanostructure and a carbonate-substituted, calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite phase.

A spinal cage with a wall extending in a longitudinal direction defining an interior space is disclosed. There is also provided a deployable element in movable relation to the spinal cage.

A method of delivering a fusion cage to an intervertebral disc space bounded by adjacent vertebral endplates, comprising the step of delivering the fusion cage into the disc space without contacting its teeth to the vertebral endplates during delivery, wherein a sheath is interposed between a cage surface and the endplates to prevent contact therebetween during delivery.

Methods for altering the natural history of degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the spine are proposed. The methods focus on the prevention, or delayed onset or progression of, subchondral defects such as bone marrow edema or bone marrow lesion, and subchondral treatment to prevent the progression of osteoarthritis or degenerative disc disease in the spine and thereby treat pain.