ApaTech announced that it has presented new clinical data for its novel synthetic bone graft, Actifuse, suggesting that it can provide a preferable alternative to the current ‘gold standard’ therapy, Iliac Crest Bone Graft (ICBG), in the treatment of patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease. Two new studies presented at the North American Spine Society (NASS) Spring Break Meeting have shown that Actifuse has the potential to be as clinically effective as ICBG, without the problems associated with the latter. The first study involved 38 patients with a diagnosis of lumbar stenosis, followed up two years after treatment with Actifuse as part of a standard lumbar fusion procedure. Fusion rates were graded at two years in excess of 81 percent. Results also showed a 68 percent decrease in pain experienced pre-operatively, as measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (8.0 pre-operatively to 2.6 at two years), with 95 percent of patients reporting satisfaction levels that were good or excellent. There were no incidences of infection, bone graft complications or instrumentation failures. The authors concluded that that both clinical results and fusion rates were comparable to those routinely achieved with ICBG, without any adverse effects. The second study involved 69 patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease, of which 45 percent had two levels fused, and 41 percent were fused at three or more levels. All patients underwent a standard posterolateral spinal fusion using Actifuse. 81 percent of patients had radiographic evidence of bilateral bridging bone one year after surgery. 57 percent of patients reported relief from back pain, and 67 percent reported relief of leg pain. The authors concluded that Actifuse is an excellent alternative to ICBG for posterolateral spinal fusion in patients requiring surgical treatment for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. “These data provide further evidence that Actifuse is an excellent alternative to ICBG for physicians and patients offering comparable efficacy to ICBG without the need to take bone from the patient’s own skeleton” commented Brad G. Prybis, MD, Carrollton Orthopaedic Clinic, Carrollton, Georgia. “These results for Actifuse are very exciting. We are proud to provide a new option for physicians in the treatment of degenerative lumbar spine disease” said ApaTech CEO Simon Cartmell. “These data further demonstrate ApaTech’s leadership in the science of silicon and the biostimulative effects of Actifuse.”