X-Stop Treatment for Spinal Stenosis
The X-Stop treatment for spinal stenosis refers to the X-Stop Interspinous Process Decompression System procedure, a minimally invasive surgery to relieve pain.
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What is Spinal Stenosis?
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Spinal stenosis occurs when the spaces of the vertebrae (foramen) become narrowed or closed off. Nerves that branch off from the spinal cord through these spaces travel to other parts of the body, so spinal stenosis can cause painful pinching of the nerves, particularly in the lower back and legs.
The X-Stop
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The X-Stop device is a titanium implant that the surgeon places in the spine to open spaces and relieve pressure on nerves. The surgeon inserts the device through a small incision in the patient's back.
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Benefits
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X-Stop surgery is an outpatient procedure usually done in less than one hour using local anesthesia and a mild sedative. This means no hospital stay and a shorter recovery time.
Side Effects
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Patients may experience back soreness that can be alleviated with pain medication. The soreness generally goes away in a few days.
Effectiveness
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According to the UCLA Health System, in an 18-month follow-up study of more than 150 patients who had X-Stop surgery, UCLA researchers found that 80 to 90 percent of patients had a six-point reduction of pain on a scale of one to 10. This result made the X-Stop at least as effective as traditional spinal stenosis surgery (laminectomy), with fewer risks.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Andrew Barden
