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Redefining Fusion: The CemLIF Story

Dr. Frenkel has spent years mastering a wide range of spinal procedures, from minimally invasive decompressions to complex fusion surgeries. While spinal fusion is always a last-resort option, many patients still require these procedures to address debilitating conditions. In preparing his patients for surgery, Dr. Frenkel was honest about the recovery: he would often tell them that it would be so challenging they might hate him and regret their decision in the early months. But, after healing, they’d experience a level of relief they had long awaited.

Although he witnessed the long-term benefits, Dr. Frenkel grew increasingly determined to lessen the challenges his patients faced during recovery. This desire to improve patient outcomes and experience led to the creation of the CemLIF procedure — an innovative fusion solution that prioritizes stability, recovery, and comfort without many of the traditional hardships of surgery.

Dr. Mark Frenkel, MD

Inventor of the CemLIF™

Dr. Mark Frenkel, MD, MA, FAANS, FCNS is a board-certified neurosurgeon and spine surgeon based in Naples, Florida. A fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Dr. Frenkel has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in prestigious neurosurgical journals and contributed to several textbook chapters on advanced spinal surgery techniques. An early adopter and innovator in surgical technology, he was among the first to use augmented reality in surgery, having developed his own intraoperative neuro-navigation system. With over a decade of experience and thousands of successful cases, Dr. Frenkel is dedicated to delivering the highest quality of care.

Driven by a commitment to improving patient outcomes, Dr. Frenkel developed the CemLIF™ procedure. He observed that many patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery faced significant pain and prolonged recovery due to the need for additional posterior incisions for screws and rods. While modern ALIF and LLIF techniques offer minimally invasive fusion options, they often require supplementary hardware that increases postoperative discomfort. Seeking a solution, Dr. Frenkel created the CemLIF™ to provide the necessary stability and strength without the need for screws, rods, or additional incisions—revolutionizing the lumbar fusion process for faster and less painful recoveries.

Learn More about Dr. Frenkel