Interspinous Fusion

Spinal stenosis with neurogenic claudication is a common condition seen when treating spine-mediated pain. Surgical approaches tend to be the next step when epidurals fail to give at least eight weeks of significant relief. In many patients, there may be reasons not to perform more advanced decompressions and fusions. For this reason, interspinous decompressive and fusion devices can be beneficial in alleviating pain and leg weakness. These work in both central and foraminal stenosis situations.

Pedicle screw fixation has been the most widely used method of stabilization; however, there has been an increase in the use of ISP devices as a less invasive alternative. ISP devices are positioned between the spinous processes versus pedicle screws which are drilled into the pedicles of the vertebrae to act as anchor points for the connection of additional rods and other hardware. Minimally invasive ISP devices have been shown to preserve normal anatomy and have resulted in shorter surgery times, less pain, and faster healing times when compared

to pedicle screw procedures.