Spinal Concepts Inc., an Abbott Laboratories company, has launched a system of implants and instruments for posterior cervicothoracic spinal fixation. Nex-Link is designed for use in patients with serious complications due to injury, trauma or degeneration in the upper section of the spine.

"Nex-Link enables the surgeon to provide immediate posterior stability to the patient's spinal column following decompression or the development of traumatic spinal instability," said Christopher Sturm, medical director of the Mercy Regional Neurosurgery Center in Janesville, Wis., who was the first surgeon to implant Nex-Link following its clearance by the US Food and Drug Administration. "The modularity of the Nex-Link system enables the surgeon to address the patient's anatomy in normal as well as in challenging procedure," he added.

"Nex-Link provides even more depth to Spinal Concepts' line of cervical implants," said Jeff Binder, president of Spinal Concepts. "This product demonstrates our continued commitment to posterior cervical fixation - one of the core segments of spinal fixation," he said. The posterior cervical fixation market is estimated at $77 million and is growing at an annual rate of greater than 15 per cent.

Spinal Concepts is recognized for providing simplicity through innovative engineering.