Each specific case is different and pain levels vary by patient. Use of the EARP technology promotes a minimally invasive surgical approach which typically results in reduced pain.

Through constant intraoperative monitoring with the EARP system providing real time feedback, the risk of nerve injury can be greatly reduced. Only 1 nerve is at risk and it is continuously and directly monitored. No other organs are at risk. Currently with existing lumbar interbody fusion approaches multiple structures are at risk. The anterior approaches pass through the abdomen which means the organs, ureter and great vessels could be injured. The existing lateral and posterior approaches place multiple nerves at risk that cannot be directly monitored.

In some, or most, cases, your hospital stay may be 1 night or less. By comparison, standard fusion techniques require 2-4 day hospital admission.

It depends, in most cases you should be able to return to normal activity levels within 4-6 weeks, but your doctor will ultimately decide when you are able to resume certain activities. 

Yes. This is FDA cleared for commercial use. Standard insurance codes will be used by the hospital and surgeon for billing purposes.

Unlike current surgical approaches that have many anatomic obstacles, the surgeon reaches the disc space in a few minutes.

Each case is different depending on a patient’s current situation, but on average, the procedure time should be approximately 1 hour.

Not likely. Use of the EARP technology promotes a minimally invasive surgical approach, which typically means a smaller incision, shorter distance and more direct approach to the disc space.

Disc height restoration and maintenance – EARP has large implants equivalent to the largest on the market. The use of the EARP technology is intended to improve fusion rates because the surgeon can visualize the disc space preparation for fusion with an endoscope to optimally prepare. 

No. BMP has very high fusion rates and is very useful when the surgeon faces multiple risks for non-fusion like smoking, diabetes and age, especially women. But because of better carpentry possible with the endoscope used in EARP, BMP can be avoided and inexpensive standard bone graft can be used. Equivalent and likely superior fusion rates will be achieved.

Yes. EARP is very versatile technique. The surgeon can perform both a fusion and laminectomy from the same incision with only a few minutes of extra operating time. Current techniques would require performing fusion through one incision and patient position. Dressing would be applied. Patient would be repositioned, typically from belly up or on the side to face down for an entire second procedure. This adds significant operating time and results in two incisions. Alternatively, patient could elect to undergo a face down procedure that addresses both problems, but uses very small implants that provide inferior support to the spinal column.