TREATMENT
If conservative treatments for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS) fail, surgical options should be pursued. The most commonly performed surgical procedures include laminectomy, laminectomy plus fusion, partial laminectomy, and fusion and instrumentation. A foraminotomy is additionally used to treat foraminal stenosis.
Laminectomy is considered the ideal option for LSS surgical procedures and is available in micro-endoscopic form—a minimally-invasive approach involving the use of small, precision instruments and methods of viewing the surgery through a small incision. Decompression, or the removal of a small bone portion over the nerve root and/or disc material, allows the nerve root more room and creates a better healing environment. Decompression must be performed in conjunction with any of the aforementioned procedures, and additional procedures may be necessary depending on individual circumstances. Procedural decisions are influenced by the severity of the disease as well as the patient’s risk acceptance level.
X-STOP for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
The X-STOP Spacer is a small implant designed to relieve pressure on pinched nerves due to lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). LSS occurs when the space between the vertebrae is reduced, causing bone or tissue to pinch spinal nerves. The resulting pain can travel down the legs—or radiate to surrounding areas in the back or buttocks.
Most people with LSS derive relief from pain when they bend forward or sit down; that’s because this position opens the space around the pinched nerve. The X-STOP Spacer uses this principle to potentially provide sustained relief. Once in place, the X-STOP Spacer opens up the space and can relieve the pinched nerve. By “unpinching” the nerve, the X-STOP Spacer can relieve your pain even as you stand up straight and walk.
Who qualifies for the X-STOP Spacer?
The X-STOP system is indicated for patients aged 50 or older who have lumbar spinal stenosis. A diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis should be confirmed by a doctor with X-ray, MRI, or CT scans. The X-STOP system is indicated for patients with moderately impaired ability to function, who experience relief from their pain symptoms when bending forward. Patients receiving the X-STOP implant should have already been under a doctor’s care and getting nonsurgical treatment for their symptoms for at least six months. The X-STOP implant may be implanted at one or two levels.