The X-Stop® Spacer is an interspinous process device designed to treat the symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), a sometimes painful condition caused by narrowing of the spinal canal. The X-Stop Spacer is an implant 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.
By enlarging the space between the bones in your back, the X-Stop Spacer reduces pressure on the spinal nerves, thereby alleviating the symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis, including:
- Leg pain, cramping
- Numbness or tingling in the lower back, buttocks and legs
The X-Stop Spacer has undergone clinical studies and is the only interspinous spacer approved in the United States to treat the symptoms of LSS. The X-Stop Spacer offers superior relief of LSS symptoms and overall treatment success when compared with non-surgical treatment.
The X-Stop Spacer is designed to remain safely and permanently in place without attaching screws or hardware to the bone or ligaments in your back. In addition, the bone and tissue removal typically associated with traditional back surgery is not necessary with this device, thus, the natural anatomy of the spine is preserved.
Has the X-Stop Spacer been studied in a clinical trial?
The X-Stop® Spacer was tested in a controlled research study that took place in 9 hospitals across the United States. In this study, 100 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) had minimally invasive spine surgery with the X-Stop Spacer.
These patients were compared with 91 patients who did not have back surgery, but were treated by their doctors conservatively, for example, medications, physical therapy, etc.
In this study, the X-Stop Spacer was clinically proven to treat the major symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis by reducing pain and improving physical function, resulting in increased patient satisfaction and leading to overall treatment success.
How long a recovery period can I expect after X-Stop Spacer surgery?
Following your discharge from the hospital, physical therapy may be recommended. Your doctor may schedule a follow-up exam approximately six weeks later. While your doctor may impose limitations on your physical activities in the weeks following your operation, you should be able to travel and engage in light activity as soon as you feel able.
Physical activity limitations will most likely include:
- No golf
- No sports such as swimming, tennis, racquetball, running or jogging
- No bending backward
- No heavy lifting
- No stair climbing
Normal activity can usually be resumed within 2-6 weeks after the procedure, provided your doctor has given you permission to do so.
If you are planning to have other diagnostic procedures or treatments, you should inform all doctors involved in your care that you have had X-Stop Spacer surgery.
Caution: It is important to follow your doctor's instructions carefully in order to fully recover from surgery. Failure to follow postoperative care recommendations may result in recurrence of symptoms and discomfort. A stress fracture of the spinous process may occur if strenuous physical activity is resumed too soon postoperatively.