Clinical Results.

Interlaminar fixation and fusion (ILFF) has emerged as a safe and effective alternative to traditional pedicle screw fusion (PSF) techniques in the treatment of lumbar spine pathology. Unlike PSF, which requires exposure of pedicles and careful navigation near neural structures, ILFF leverages the thicker and stronger cortical bone at the laminar junction to achieve rigid fixation and fusion while avoiding the spinal canal. Minimally invasive ILFF techniques offer several intraoperative advantages, including reduced blood loss, shorter operative times, and smaller incisions compared to PSF procedures. While improved patient-reported outcomes — such as reductions in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores — are crucial measures of clinical success, radiographic confirmation of fusion remains essential to satisfy long-term biomechanical integrity and payer requirements, including those of Medicare. The purpose of this clinical case series is to assess the capability of the StabiLink Interlaminar Fixation System to achieve a solid interlaminar fusion as verified by computed tomography (CT) imaging.

Materials and Methods

Study Design

This study retrospectively evaluated postoperative CT scans of patients who underwent lumbar interlaminar fixation and fusion utilizing the StabiLink system. All CT assessments were conducted by an independent board-certified radiologist blinded to patient identifiers and clinical outcomes.

Patient Selection

A total of 21 patients were included. Inclusion criteria encompassed adults undergoing posterior lumbar fusion with interlaminar fixation as either a stand-alone procedure or as an adjunct to interbody fusion. Exclusion criteria included prior instrumentation at the index level or incomplete imaging follow-up.

Table 1: Patient Demographics

Variable	Value
Number of Patients	21
Male	11
Female	10
Age Range (yrs)	38–89

Fusion Assessment

A total of CT images obtained between 10 and 16 months postoperatively were used to evaluate fusion status. Fusion grading was defined as: Solid Fusion — continuous trabecular bone bridging the interlaminar space; Partial Fusion — incomplete or unilateral bridging; No Fusion — absence of bone continuity across the fusion site.

Table 2: CT Fusion Assessment

Follow-up (months)	Fusion Category	Percentage
10–16 (mean: 12)	Solid	89%
10–16 (mean: 12)	Partial	11%
10–16 (mean: 12)	None	0%

At an average follow-up of 12 months postoperatively, 89% of patients demonstrated solid fusion, while 11% exhibited partial fusion. There were no cases of non-fusion or device-related complications noted on CT imaging.

Discussion

The findings from this case series support that interlaminar fixation with the StabiLink System achieves high rates of solid fusion when assessed by CT. The 89% solid fusion rate is comparable to, or exceeds, fusion rates typically reported for pedicle screw-based constructs in similar patient populations. The minimally invasive approach of ILFF not only reduces surgical morbidity but also avoids potential risks associated with pedicle screw trajectories near neural structures. The laminar fixation mechanism, which utilizes cortical bone purchase, provides a strong posterior tension band that promotes stability and bone fusion. Although this study is limited by its sample size and retrospective nature, the results underscore the clinical potential of the StabiLink system as a reliable, less invasive solution for achieving spinal fusion in appropriately selected patients.

Conclusions

CT-based evaluation confirms that the StabiLink Interlaminar Fixation System achieves a high rate of solid lumbar fusion. This system represents a minimally invasive, biomechanically sound, and radiographically effective alternative to traditional pedicle screw fusion techniques.