There are different cages as far as the geometry is concerned: cylindrical, cubic, screw-like, conic,banana-like etc. I do not believe there is enough evidence to recommend one of them as being the best. The goal is to achieve a good interbody  fusion. And my experience with different cages demonstrates equal outcomes.

Thank you!

Dear Mr. Panayot, do you know papers describing the outcome of different cage-designs? I am familiar with the history of materials for cages as there is titanium, carbon-peek, peek, metal foams etc and the different shapes. What I would like to find is some literature dealing with this matter!

Best regards

Dietmar

Dear Dr. Schaffarczyk, 

Please, find some references on the topic looked for. 

I think the review of McAffee (1999) is one of the best papers incorporating outcomes from the classic interbody cages (BAK, Ray, Brantigam, Harms). 

http://www.orthochirurg.com/resources/journals/Current%20Concepts%20Review/Interbody%20fusion%20cages%20in%20reconsrtuctive%20operations%20on%20the%20spine.pdf        

http://journals.lww.com/spinejournal/Abstract/1997/01150/Adding_Posterior_Lumbar_Interbody_Fusion_to.16.aspx  

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20124907 

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11716014 

www.boneandjoint.org.uk/.../clinical-outcome-int... -

www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/16/99 

I hope I yielded some help for you. 

Best regards 

Panayot Tanchev

Dear Prof. Tanchev, thank you very, very much!!!

Best regards

Dietmar