Spinal applications of bioabsorbable implants.

With the increasing use of bioabsorbable implants in a variety of clinical conditions, potential advantages in select spinal applications are now being realized. Newer polymers with biomechanical properties relevant to the requirements of specific spinal implants and resorption rates appropriate for specific spinal applications are being developed. These new materials offer the necessary biomechanical stability of conventional spinal implants without the sequelae associated with metallic implants such as long-term loosening, implant migration, and imaging interference. At this time, the majority of clinical applications for these new polymers have involved tension band plating in the lumbar and anterior cervical spine, anterior spinal interbody reconstruction, posterior bone graft containment, and bone graft harvest site reconstruction.