Interspinous process decompression (IPD) system (X-STOP) for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis.

With increased life expectancy and an aging population, many patients suffering from progressive lumbar spinal stenosis with symptomatic neurogenic intermittent claudication (NIC) have been limited to a choice between nonsurgical therapies or a more traumatic decompressive surgical procedure, with or without lumbar fusion. The interspinous process decompression (IPD) system, the X-STOP implant, was developed to provide a minimally invasive alternative therapeutic treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. The X-STOP IPD system, surgical indications, operative techniques, and the potential complications and their avoidance are described and discussed herein.