A Houston-based Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center surgeon performed the first cases involving Belgrade, Mont.-based Xtant Medical's Xspan Laminoplasty Fixation System, according to pharmiweb.com.
Here are five highlights:
1. Francisco Vaz-Guimaraes, MD, performed the first two surgical cases using the Xspan system to treat spinal stenosis.
2. Neurosurgeon Dr. Vaz-Guimaraes serves as a faculty member at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and he is contracted with the VA center.
3. David Kirschman, MD, a neurosurgeon in Dayton, Ohio, developed the Xspan system.
4. The Xspan system is intended for use in cervical laminoplasty procedures, directly decompressing the cervical spine without disturbing the patient anatomy.
5. Xtant Medical plans to implement a larger launch of the system in 2017.