Spinal Procedures-Surgery
Dr. Lestini in Surgery- X-STOP® IPD® Implant
The topics presented here are for informational purposes only. They are not intended to be a substitute for medical advice and information provided by our health care providers. Any decision you make regarding your health care options should be made only after consulting a qualified medical practitioner. Also, the content on this page depicts imagery of Dr. Lestini during a surgical procedure. Please be advised that the content may be considered graphic in nature.
The Surgical Procedure
Your spine consists of a column of 24 bones called vertebrae that extend from your skull down to your hips. Between the vertebrae are discs of soft tissue. The vertebrae join together like links in a chain, providing support for your head and body while the discs act as cushions, or “shock absorbers.” In addition to providing support, the spine encloses and protects a cylinder of nerve tissues called the spinal cord. The spinal cord is surrounded by a bony channel called the spinal canal.
Normally there is space between the spinal cord and the borders of the spinal canal so that the nerves are free and are not pinched. As we age the ligaments and bone that surround the spinal canal can thicken. This thickening results in narrowing of the spinal canal, which is called “spinal stenosis.” The spinal cord and nerve fibers that exit the spinal canal (nerve roots) become crowded and pinched due to this narrowing. This results in pain and numbness in the back and legs. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal. Some patients are born with this narrowing, but most often spinal stenosis is the result of a degenerative condition that develops in people over the age of 50. Spinal stenosis is the gradual result of aging and “wear and tear” on the spine from everyday activities. Degenerative or age-related changes in our bodies can lead to compression of nerves (pressure on the nerves that may cause pain and/or damage).
The X-STOP® IPD Procedure is a surgical procedure in which an implant, called the X-STOP® IPD Implant, is placed between two bones called spinous processes in the back of your spine. The principle is that by preventing extension at the degenerative symptomatic spinal segment, loading to these structures is significantly reduced, and the symptoms can be relieved without altering the healthy, non-symptomatic, spinal segments.
The X-STOP® IPD® Implant is a titanium metal implant designed to fit between two bones called spinous processes in the back of your spine. The X-STOP® IPD® Implant is not positioned close to nerves or the spinal cord, but rather behind the spinal cord between the bony spinous process. It is designed to remain safely and permanently in place without attaching to the bone or ligaments in your back. The oval spacer fits between the spinous processes and the wings are designed to prevent the implant from moving.
With the help of X-ray guidance, the X-STOP® IPD® Implant is inserted through a small incision in the skin of your back. During the procedure, a sizer is placed through the hole made by the dilator in the interspinous ligament. The sizer handles are squeezed slowly until resistance is encountered. The spacer assembly of the device is inserted from below, or the right side of the spinous processes from lateral to medial. The universal wing is fixed to the side of the spacer assembly.
The X-STOP® IPD® Impant is designed to keep the space between your spinous processes open, so that when you stand upright the nerves in your back will not be pinched or cause pain.
For more information the X-STOP® IPD Procedure visit our surgical prodecural page dealing with the X-STOP® IPD® Impant, or visit www.kyphon.com.
For a consultation concerning treatment options about the X-STOP® IPD Procedure, please contact Triangle Spine and Back Care Center at 919-876-7676.
