Advanced Procedure For Spinal Stenosis
A minimally invasive surgical procedure that relieves the symptoms associated with lumbar spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) is available at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.
In the United States, Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a major contributor to the need for back surgery in people over the age of 65. The surgery traditionally used to treat stenosis (laminectomy) requires the removal of various parts of the vertebrae, leaving a part of the spinal cord exposed, and takes about two hours.
The advanced procedure performed at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital involves placement of an implant, called the X-STOP device, between two bones in the back of the spine to widen the canal and alleviate the symptoms of spinal stenosis. Once the implant is in place, the bone overgrowth no longer comes in contact with the nerves and the symptoms are alleviated. This new procedure decreases the risks of medical complications associated with traditional surgery used to treat LSS and can be performed in under an hour with the use of local anesthesia.
The X-STOP divide is designed to remain safely and permanently in place.
Patients who undergo this procedure are able to go home the very same day instead of spending a few nights in the Hospital to recover, as they would with traditional surgery. A good candidate for X-STOP is a patient whose physical function is moderately impaired or one who might not be able to undergo traditional surgery.