Home » Knowledge Center » Surgical Treatments » Indirect Spinal Distraction Decompression (X-Stop)

Indirect Spinal Distraction Decompression (X-Stop)

The indirect spinal distraction decompression procedure (X-Stop, Diam, others) is used for the treatment of symptomatic spinal stenosis. The technique works by spreading apart the two spinous process bones in the back side of the spine and placing a spacer between them to keep them apart. By doing this a collapsed disc space and spinal canal can be stretched apart thereby enlarging the spinal canal and indirectly decompressing the spinal cord or spinal nerves.

X-stop surgery is performed through a relatively small incision with little disruption to the spine muscles. Though appealing in principle, shortfalls include pushing the spine into a forward bent position (kyphosis) and the spine already being spontaneously fused not allowing the distraction to occur.

Indirect Spinal Distraction Decompression can treat the following conditions:

Spinal Stenosis