Medico-Economic Value

Clinical Value

HydroCision devices enable minimally access to procedures traditionally performed through open techniques, thus minimizing surgical morbidity while providing improved clinical outcomes. In addition, the nonthermal nature of fluidjet technology eliminates the risk of thermal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Each HydroCision device is designed for specific spine and orthopedic applications.

The devices have several clinical advantages.

  • The TenJet tenotomy devices provide a definitive treatment option for patients suffering from chronic tendinopathy.
  • The devices enable tissue selective, non-thermal, cutting and removal of diseased tendons, thereby enabling the initiation of the healing process.
  • Early results demonstrate an average of 85% postoperative improvement of pain and function scores.

  • A precise volume of disc material is removed in two to four minutes regardless of the patient’s age or disc pathology.
  • 4 mm PercResector and MicroResector access cannula spares the outer annulus by allowing the annular fibers to shrink back into place, potentially decreasing the rate of disc herniations.

  • SpineJet Fusion devices reduce disc prep time by 50% while enabling efficient removal of disc material and preparation of vertebral end plates.
  • In a TLIF procedure, the SpineJet Fusion XL devices enable access to the contralateral posterior disc space and remove 95% more disc material than conventional instruments.
  • The unique designs enable a thorough disc space preparation with 65% fewer instrument passes compared to conventional instruments.

Economic Value

The impact of minimally invasive techniques in reducing overall health-care costs by minimizing risk of complications associated with open techniques has been studied and documented in multiple fields.

Three examples of these medico-economic advantages follow.

  • TenJet for tenotomy procedures offers significant savings to ASCs or outpatient surgery centers in terms of resource utilization. The sterile procedure kit contains the TenJet handpiece as well as many of the disposable supplies needed for the procedure.
  • In addition, health-care systems experience significant savings due to resolution of pain in chronically symptomatic patients and associated reduction in payments for office visits and diagnostic or treatment procedures.

  • Compared to traditional manual methods of performing surgical discectomies, SpineJet’s MicroResector technology has demonstrated an average cost savings of $2,114 per patient. This is mainly due to a reduction in rates of reherniation, recurrent radicular pain in the absence of reherniation, and reoperation.

  • Several important factors contribute to the risk and incidence of surgical site infection. These include incision size, amount of tissue trauma, length of surgery, and length of hospital stay. SpineJet may help reduce the risk of infection by enabling a more thorough and minimally invasive approach to the disc that is completed in less time than with conventional manual instruments.
  • It is estimated that SpineJet Fusion devices can result in average cost savings of $1,754 per patient through time savings associated with each level of disc preparation, reduction in number of needed instruments, reduced complication rates, and reduced failure rates