title: An interspinous process distractor (X STOP) for lumbar spinal stenosis in elderly patients: preliminary experiences in 10 consecutive cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is often a position-dependent condition that is aggravated in extension and relieved in flexion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten consecutive elderly patients with LSS were assessed postoperatively by magnetic resonance imaging and the Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire. Cross-sectional areas of the dural sac and intervertebral foramina at the stenotic level were measured postoperatively and compared with the preoperative values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperatively the cross-sectional area of the dural sac increased 16.6 mm2 or 22.3% and intervertebral foramina increased 22 mm2 or 36.5%. The intervertebral angle and the posterior disc height changed significantly. Seventy percent of the patients were satisfied with the surgical outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This new surgical method is effective in elderly LSS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. Jangbo@med.hokudai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Jangbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kazutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hida
authors.forename: Toshitaka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Akino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minoru
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014143:Traction / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome