Degeneration of the facet joints often leads to spinal stenosis and as the degeneration continues, many patients require surgery to regain spinal stability and obtain relief from pain. A common surgical treatment is the removal of bone from the affected area followed by a spinal fusion, which limits normal motion.

The Anatomic Facet Replacement System (AFRS) is a treatment that preserves normal motion and is an alternative to lumbar spinal fusion for lumbar spinal stenosis patients.

The Procedure

With the AFRS, the degenerated facet is replaced with a moveable joint. Like the original facet joint, the replacement implant is designed to enable normal motion while restoring stability.

The implant is made from a cobalt chrome alloy with highly polished moveable surfaces, which replicates the construction of total knee and hip replacements. The backing of the implant that touches the bone is coated to promote bony in-growth. Different implants are used for inferior and superior facets and they are produced in a variety of sizes to meet individual physical and anatomical requirements.

Who is a Candidate?

• Be between the ages of 21 and 75
• Have received at least 6 months of non-operative spinal treatment prior to surgery.
• Have lateral, lateral recess and/or central canal stenosis, nerve root involvement, or evidence of facet problems at a single level from L3 to L5.
• Have greater leg pain than back pain.
• Be a candidate for a decompression with full facetectomy.
• Be a candidate for a transforaminal or posterior lumbar interbody fusion.
• Not be pregnant at the time of surgery.

Who is Not a Candidate?

• Patients who have an active infection at the L3 to L5 levels or a systemic infection including prior or pending treatment for HIV or Hepatitis C.
• Patients who have had a previous surgical procedure at L3 to L5 levels.
• Patients with certain levels of osteoporosis.
• Have spinal stenosis of three or more lumbar segments.
• Patients who have had injury to the lumbar spine.
• Patients with a metabolic bone disease, such as Paget's disease.
• Patients with spondylolisthesis at levels other than the involved level.
• Patients with certain levels of scoliosis of the lumbar spine.

Additional Questions on Trial Participation

For more information on Anatomic Facet Replacement, click here.