• James F Zucherman, Ken Y Hsu, Charles A Hartjen, Thomas F Mehalic, Dante A Implicito, Michael J Martin, Donald R Johnson, Grant A Skidmore, Paul P Vessa, James W Dwyer, Stephen T Puccio, Joseph C Cauthen, and Richard M Ozuna.
• St Mary's Hospital, San Francisco, California, USA. yaquai@aol.com
• Spine. 2005 Jun 15;30(12):1351-8.

Study DesignA randomized, controlled, prospective multicenter trial comparing the outcomes of neurogenic intermittent claudication (NIC) patients treated with the interspinous process decompression system (X STOP) with patients treated nonoperatively.ObjectiveTo determine the safety and efficacy of the X STOP interspinous implant.Summary Of Background DataPatients suffering from NIC secondary to lumbar spinal stenosis have been limited to a choice between nonoperative therapies and decompressive surgical procedures, with or without fusion. The X STOP was developed to provide an alternative therapeutic treatment. METHODS.: 191 patients were treated, 100 in the X STOP group and 91 in the control group. The primary outcomes measure was the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire, a patient-completed, validated instrument for NIC.ResultsAt every follow-up visit, X STOP patients had significantly better outcomes in each domain of the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire. At 2 years, the X STOP patients improved by 45.4% over the mean baseline Symptom Severity score compared with 7.4% in the control group; the mean improvement in the Physical Function domain was 44.3% in the X STOP group and -0.4% in the control group. In the X STOP group, 73.1% patients were satisfied with their treatment compared with 35.9% of control patients.ConclusionsThe X STOP provides a conservative yet effective treatment for patients suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis. In the continuum of treatment options, the X STOP offers an attractive alternative to both conservative care and decompressive surgery.

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