NuVasive, Inc. Announces The U.S. Launch Of ALIF ACR&#0153

Published: Dec 18, 2013

The ALIF ACR(TM) procedure leverages the rich clinical history of anterior lumbar surgical access with an innovative implant design. With built in 20-degree and 30-degree lordosis, four point fixation coupled by posterior fixation, the procedure may offer the same correction capability as traditional techniques with decreased complications and reduced morbidity.

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The ALIF ACR(TM) procedure leverages the rich clinical history of anterior lumbar surgical access with an innovative implant design. With built in 20-degree and 30-degree lordosis, four point fixation coupled by posterior fixation, the procedure may offer the same correction capability as traditional techniques with decreased complications and reduced morbidity.

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - December 17, 2013) - NuVasive, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUVA), a medical device company focused on developing minimally disruptive surgical products and procedures for the spine, is excited to announce the United States launch of ALIF ACR™ (Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion - Anterior Column Realignment).

ALIF ACR is focused on correcting the sagittal plane imbalance that results from advanced degeneration. The innovative product offers surgeons a familiar ALIF technique to increase alignment where eighty percent of sagittal balance exists, between L4 and S1. ALIF ACR is designed to achieve the same correction capabilities as traditional techniques, while providing the benefits associated with less invasive anterior approaches.

The hyperlordotic implants developed for the ALIF ACR procedure are the Company's latest innovative advancement in an effort to improve sagittal plane deformity correction.

"The ability to restore natural lumbar lordosis of 50 to 60 degrees through a two-level ALIF ACR procedure without requiring a posterior osteotomy represents a significant advancement in spinal deformity correction," said Chris Shaffrey, M.D.

Typical ALIF implants only offer 8 to 15 degrees of lordosis, which presents a challenge when attempting to restore natural lumbar lordosis. The implants developed for the ALIF ACR procedure offer a 20-degree and 30-degree hyperlordotic footprints and may improve sagittal balance restoration capabilities.

"Influenced by the initial success of XLIF®ACR™, ALIF ACR provides a procedurally integrated solution to restore the natural anterior column while increasing foraminal height in the lower levels of the lumbar spine," said Pat Miles, President of Global Products and Services. "Our efforts to address sagittal imbalance with unique techniques demonstrate NuVasive's continued commitment to changing spine surgery with innovation."

The ALIF technique has a rich clinical history and is an accepted procedure for treating certain pathologies of the lumbar spine. Anterior approaches, like ALIF, obtain access to the disc space from the front of the spine. Traditional correction techniques require muscle stripping, and are often associated with significant morbidity, prolonged operative times, neurological complications, high blood loss, and lengthy recovery times.

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About ALIF ACR™:

Traditional sagittal plane deformity correction techniques are often associated with significant morbidity, prolonged operative times, neurological complications, and blood loss. The ALIF ACR™ procedure is an alternative method of treating sagittal imbalance from the anterior column, and may provide the same correction capability with decreased complications and morbidity. The surgical goal of an ALIF is to restore and maintain natural disc space and posterior foraminal height, indirectly decompress the neural elements, and introduce or restore proper sagittal and coronal alignment of the spinal column.

About NuVasive®

NuVasive is an innovative global medical device company that is changing spine surgery with minimally disruptive surgical products and procedurally-integrated solutions for the spine. The Company is the 4th largest player in the $8.2 billion global spine market.

NuVasive offers a comprehensive spine portfolio of more than 90 unique products developed to improve spine surgery and patient outcomes. The Company's principal procedural solution is its Maximum Access Surgery, or MAS®, platform for lateral spine fusion. MAS was designed to provide safe, reproducible, and clinically proven outcomes, and is a highly differentiated solution with fully integrated neuromonitoring, customizable exposure, and a broad offering of application-specific implants and fixation devices designed to address a variety of pathologies.

NuVasive's solutions are increasingly being adopted internationally, as the Company lays the groundwork to continue growing as a global business and to offer industry-leading, Absolutely Responsive customer service to surgeons worldwide. NuVasive is focused on becoming a $1 Billion Start-up™; taking market share by maintaining a commitment to Superior Clinical Outcomes, Speed of Innovation®, and Absolute Responsiveness®.

NuVasive cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which, if they do not materialize or prove correct, could cause NuVasive's results to differ materially from historical results or those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual growth and results to differ materially include, but are not limited to those risks and uncertainties more fully described in NuVasive's press releases and periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. NuVasive's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available at www.sec.gov. NuVasive assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which it was made.