--- title: Patient Outcomes Following PLIF for ASD Using VariLift® Standalone description: Check out Wenzel Spine's Latest Publication on VariLift as a Solution for ASD image: https://www.wenzelspine.com/hubfs/tuck_paper_header.jpg --- ![tuck_paper_header](https://www.wenzelspine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/tuck_paper_header.jpg?width=575&name=tuck_paper_header.jpg) [Admin](https://www.wenzelspine.com/blog/author/admin) Aug 22, 2017 10:51:00 PM 1 min read # Patient Outcomes Following PLIF for ASD Using VariLift® Standalone [Previous ](https://www.wenzelspine.com/blog/news/2017/wenzel-spine-top-medical-device-company-to-work-for-in-austin) [Next ](https://www.wenzelspine.com/blog/news/2017/surgeons-begin-adopting-varilift-c-line-extension) **Background** Adjacent segment disease (ASD) is a notable complication following lumbar fusion surgery. Clinicians use various surgical techniques to correct the progression of spine deterioration and reduce the risk of continued ASD. The aim of this retrospective case series is to describe patient outcomes following posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) using the VariLift® standalone expandable interbody device (without supplemental fixation) for the treatment of ASD. **Methods** Nine consecutive patients who underwent a single-level PLIF for the treatment of ASD were reviewed. Outcome measures included patient demographics, comorbidities, surgical complications, time to fusion, Visual Analog Scales for Pain (VAS), and overall patient reported recovery of symptoms. Nine patients (8 males, 1 female) with a mean age of 62.3 (42 to 72) years underwent a single-level procedure. The standalone VariLift expandable interbody fusion system was used in all nine (9) sequential patients, regardless of the type of fusion/fixation instrumentation previously used. Surgical technique consisted of discectomy and generous bilateral laminotomies with medial facetectomies preserving midline ligamentous structures. **Results** Radiographic ASD was confirmed in all cases. Each patient had a history of a lumbar fusion. Preoperatively, 89% of patients reported 9-10 VAS back pain levels. All patients experienced symptomatic improvement. By 12 months postoperatively, average VAS back pain score was 2, a significant improvement from baseline (p < 0.05). Solid interbody fusion without implant failure was observed in all cases with averaged time to fusion at 346 days (min = 181 days). **Conclusions/Level of Evidence ** Posterior lumbar interbody fusion using the VariLift device to treat symptomatic ASD offers significant clinical success and solid fusion rates without the need for supplemental fixation or extension of previous supplemental fixation. Level of evidence IV. **Clinical Relevance** This stand-alone expandable fusion device produced high fusion rates and symptomatic improvement in a sample of patients with severe back pain and ASD.   [![Download Paper: VariLift Standalone PLIF for Adjacent Segment Disease](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/20223441/2d30d020-792e-43e5-9289-44bf9560bccb.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/20223441/2d30d020-792e-43e5-9289-44bf9560bccb) ## RELATED ARTICLES [ Admin Apr 6, 2017 3:12:00 PM 1 min read ### Release of new publication featuring Stand-Alone VariLift-L in One and Two Level Cases Background: Surgical interventions such as posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) with and without posterior instrumentation ... Start Reading ](https://www.wenzelspine.com/blog/news/2017/release-of-new-publication-featuring-stand-alone-varilift-l-in-one-and-two-cases) [ Admin Aug 22, 2023 2:16:24 PM 2 min read ### New FDA Clearance Expanding Clinical Indications for primaLOK SP AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wenzel Spine, Inc., a medical technology company specializing in the development of a minimally ... Start Reading ](https://www.wenzelspine.com/blog/new-fda-clearance-expanding-clinical-indications-for-primalok-sp) [ Admin Jul 22, 2025 1:13:14 PM 1 min read ### Wenzel Spine Receives FDA Clearance for First Expandable Sacroiliac (SI) Fusion Implant, panaSIa™ AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wenzel Spine, Inc., a medical technology company focused on minimally invasive surgical and ... Start Reading ](https://www.wenzelspine.com/blog/wenzel-spine-receives-fda-clearance-for-first-expandable-sacroiliac-si-fusion-implant-panasia) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=5272753&fmt=gif) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "USA", "addressLocality" : "Austin", "addressRegion" : "TX", "postalCode" : "78758", "streetAddress" : "2535 Brockton Drive" }, "email" : "hello@wenzelspine.com", "knowsLanguage" : "en", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://f.hubspotusercontent40.net/hubfs/20223441/wenzel_white_140px.svg" }, "name" : "Wenzel Spine", "telephone" : "1-855-Wenzel1", "url" : "https://www.wenzelspine.com/blog/news/2017/check-out-wenzel-spines-latest-publication-on-varilift-as-a-solution-for-asd" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "abstract" : "Check out Wenzel Spine's Latest Publication on VariLift as a Solution for ASD", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Admin" }, "dateModified" : "September 8, 2021 6 PM", "datePublished" : "August 23, 2017 2 AM", "headline" : "Patient Outcomes Following PLIF for ASD Using VariLift® Standalone", "image" : "https://f.hubspotusercontent40.net/hubfs/20223441/tuck_paper_header.jpg", "inLanguage" : "en", "keywords" : "[Publication, Case Study, VariLift®]", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@type" : "WebPage" }, "name" : "Patient Outcomes Following PLIF for ASD Using VariLift® Standalone", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://f.hubspotusercontent40.net/hubfs/20223441/wenzel_white_140px.svg" }, "name" : "Wenzel Spine" }, "text" : "Background Adjacent segment disease (ASD) is a notable complication following lumbar fusion surgery. Clinicians use various surgical techniques to correct the progression of spine deterioration and reduce the risk of continued ASD. The aim of this retrospective case series is to describe patient outcomes following posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) using the VariLift® standalone expandable interbody device (without supplemental fixation) for the treatment of ASD. Methods Nine consecutive patients who underwent a single-level PLIF for the treatment of ASD were reviewed. Outcome measures included patient demographics, comorbidities, surgical complications, time to fusion, Visual Analog Scales for Pain (VAS), and overall patient reported recovery of symptoms. Nine patients (8 males, 1 female) with a mean age of 62.3 (42 to 72) years underwent a single-level procedure. The standalone VariLift expandable interbody fusion system was used in all nine (9) sequential patients, regardless of the type of fusion/fixation instrumentation previously used. Surgical technique consisted of discectomy and generous bilateral laminotomies with medial facetectomies preserving midline ligamentous structures. Results Radiographic ASD was confirmed in all cases. Each patient had a history of a lumbar fusion. Preoperatively, 89% of patients reported 9-10 VAS back pain levels. All patients experienced symptomatic improvement. By 12 months postoperatively, average VAS back pain score was 2, a significant improvement from baseline (p < 0.05). Solid interbody fusion without implant failure was observed in all cases with averaged time to fusion at 346 days (min = 181 days). Conclusions/Level of Evidence Posterior lumbar interbody fusion using the VariLift device to treat symptomatic ASD offers significant clinical success and solid fusion rates without the need for supplemental fixation or extension of previous supplemental fixation. Level of evidence IV. Clinical Relevance This stand-alone expandable fusion device produced high fusion rates and symptomatic improvement in a sample of patients with severe back pain and ASD.", "url" : "https://www.wenzelspine.com/blog/news/2017/check-out-wenzel-spines-latest-publication-on-varilift-as-a-solution-for-asd", "wordCount" : "367" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Admin", "url" : "https://www.wenzelspine.com/blog/author/admin" }, "dateModified" : "2021-09-08T18:51:45.249Z", "datePublished" : "2017-08-23T02:51:00.000Z", "headline" : "Patient Outcomes Following PLIF for ASD Using VariLift® Standalone", "image" : [ "https://www.wenzelspine.com/hubfs/tuck_paper_header.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.wenzelspine.com/blog/news/2017/check-out-wenzel-spines-latest-publication-on-varilift-as-a-solution-for-asd", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.wenzelspine.com/hubfs/wenzel_white_140px.svg" }, "name" : "Wenzel Spine, Inc." } } ```