What is Karma®?
Karma® is a metal-free strap, comprised of PEEK, a medical-grade material used commonly in orthopedic implants. Karma® is used to provide stable fixation during the healing and fusion process, after spinal fusion and other similar procedures that require stability.
Karma is a patient-centric alternative to traditional posterior fixation, which uses screws and rods. By comparison, the Karma® implant is:
- Metal-free − it is comprised of PEEK, a medical- grade material used frequently in orthopedics
- Anatomy preserving − is smaller in overall size and takes up less room in the body
- Low profile − is shorter in height which may minimize the potential for post-operative pain and irritation
- Physiologic − Karma uses the strongest1 parts of the spinal bones
How does Karma work?
The Karma procedure is a technique that binds the facet joints using the strongest bones of the spine for the Karma implant to be inserted and tightened. Karma holds the vertebral segments together providing stability while the bones heal and fuse.
While all spine surgery presents some risk, please consult this with your doctor for all the associated risk for your procedure.
Benefits of Karma
Karma uses a patient’s natural anatomy. Karma uses the strongest spinal bones to provide fixation and stability. This is especially important for older patients, who are more likely to encounter issues with bone density/strength.
Who can get a Karma implant?
Any patient who is getting a fusion procedure and requires stabilization within those spine segments being treated if the surgeon is using a posterior approach. Since Karma® uses the strongest parts of the spinal bones, this may be a favorable procedure for patients with poor bone quality, often the result of osteoporosis.
Doctors who treat this condition
Unless otherwise indicated, the physician is a member of DOCS Health Medical Group and has medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both. Physicians denoted with an asterisk (*) are independent physicians who are not part of DOCS Health Medical Group, but do have medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both.