Lumbar spinal stenosis is characterized by a narrowing
of the spinal canal, which can compress the large nerves
traveling through the lower back into the legs. If the nerves
that emerge from the lower spine to innervate the legs are
compressed by this narrowing of the spinal spaces, the person
may experience a host of very unpleasant symptoms including
low back pain, leg pain and decreased sensation in the legs.
While it may affect younger patients, it is more often a
degenerative condition that affects people age 60 and older.
To help improve the quality of life for people with lumbar
spinal stenosis, Good Samaritan is now offering a new technology
called the X-STOP® Interspinous Process Decompression
(X-STOP® IPD®). The X-STOP® IPD® system
provides a minimally invasive treatment option for people
experiencing difficult symptoms associated with lumbar spinal
stenosis.
Since standing upright increases the narrowing of the spinal
spaces and will often lead to increased lumbar spinal stenosis
symptoms, the X-STOP® implant is designed to limit extension
of the lumbar spine helping to keep the spinal spaces open.
“A good candidate for the X-STOP® procedure is
someone aged 50 or older whose physical function is moderately
impaired and who experiences relief from pain when bending
forward,” said Chief of Neurosurgery at Good Samaritan
Kevin Mullins, MD.
The X-STOP® IPD® procedure involves surgically
implanting the device in a minimally invasive procedure
taking about 45 to 90 minutes and can be done under local
anesthesia. The X-STOP® device underwent extensive clinical
study and is the first device approved in the U.S. to treat
the symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis.
“This new treatment option fills the gap in the continuum
of care that, until now, required my patients to make the
leap from conservative therapies, such as pain
management medications and physical therapy, straight to
more invasive surgical procedures such as a laminectomy,”
states Dr. Mullins.
Some of the benefits experienced by people with lumbar
spinal stenosis that have undergone treatment with X-STOP®
IPD® include:
• Having a less invasive surgical procedure that
can help
improve recovery every time. Typically, there is no need
for general anesthesia as X-STOP® IPD® can be done
as
an outpatient procedure with only a local anesthesia.
• Typically, no bone or soft tissue is removed helping
to
reduce recovery time.
• The implant is removable.
• The X-STOP® system is indicated for patient
aged 50 or
older, who suffer from neurogenic intermittent leg pain
due to lumbar spinal stenosis diagnosed by a physician.
Candidates for the X-STOP® implant should have
already been under a doctor’s care, received non-surgical
treatment for their lumbar spinal stenosis symptoms for
at least six months and have no more than two levels of
lumbar spinal stenosis affected by the stenosis.
