Spinal implants: past, present, and future

Spinal fusion has become a widely used technique to treat a variety of spinal instability syndromes including those due to trauma, tumor, infection, degeneration, and deformity. Spinal fusion is always performed using bone graft with or without stabilizing implants. The degree of the associated instability usually determines the necessity of implants. Instrumentation of the spine has undergone revolutionary changes over the past decade. It has evolved from the use of only wire, to wire holding rods, to rods with hooks, to universal systems which include hooks, wires, pedicle screws, and rods or plates. Rods and plates can be contoured to enable segmental maneuvering of the individual vertebrae