FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Southside Regional Medical Center
200 Medical Park Blvd.
Petersburg, VA 23805
Contact: Tonya Grant
(804) 765-5393

01/12/2009

Local Surgeon First In Area To Use Novel, Minimally Invasive Approach To Treat Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

New Approach Offers Many Patients Fast Relief from Symptoms

Petersburg, VA – Prakasam Kalluri, MD, of Colonial Orthopaedics is the first surgeon in the area to perform a new minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of symptoms due to lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). LSS is a common spinal problem suffered mainly by people over 50, and is often associated with leg, buttock, groin and sometimes back pain. The new approach involves implanting an X-STOP® device during a minimally invasive procedure that takes about 45 to 90 minutes and can be done under local anesthesia. The procedure has a low complication rate, and has been clinically proven to relieve the symptoms of LSS. Because standing upright provokes LSS symptoms, the X-STOP implant is designed to limit extension of the lumbar spine and keep the canal open. "A good candidate for the X-STOP procedure is someone aged 50 or older whose physical function is moderately impaired and who experiences relief from pain when bending forward," said Dr. Kalluri. The X-STOP IPD procedure involves implanting a titanium alloy device in a minimally invasive, reversible procedure. The X-STOP device underwent extensive clinical study and is the first device of its kind approved in the U.S. to treat the symptoms of LSS. "This new procedure fills the gap in the continuum of care that, until now, required my patients to make the leap from conservative therapies, such as pain management medications and physical therapy, straight to invasive surgery such as a laminectomy," states Dr. Kalluri. A laminectomy involves removing parts of the bone and tissue that are narrowing the spinal canal. It is an extensive surgical procedure that requires general anesthesia. Often this is not an option for patients who cannot tolerate general anesthesia due to age and other conditions. Patient benefits of the X-STOP IPD include:

• Minimally invasive surgical procedure
• Does not require general anesthesia; can be done using local anesthetic as an outpatient procedure
• Typically no bone or soft tissue removal
• The implant is removable and does not prevent a patient from undergoing surgery at a later time, if needed
• Quick recovery time

LSS is on the rise due to the aging American population. Between 1997 and 2004, the number of hospital in-patient diagnoses of lumbar spinal stenosis has increased 46%. In fact, LSS is the most common cause of back surgery in people over the age of 50. Until the X-STOP IPD procedure, LSS patients have not had a minimally invasive treatment available for relieving the symptoms associated with this disease. The X-STOP system is indicated for patients aged 50 or older, who suffer from neurogenic intermittent claudication secondary to lumbar spinal stenosis confirmed with X-ray, MRI or CT scans. Patients receiving the X-STOP implant should have already been under a doctor’s care, received non-surgical treatment for their symptoms for at least six months and operative treatment is indicated at no more than two levels.