Biomechanical Investigation and Bone-Implant Stress Analysis of a Novel Lumbar Interspinous Spacer

Spinal stenosis usually presents with pain radiating beyond the back to the buttocks, thighs or lower legs. The pain is worsened with extension of the lumbar spine and improves with flexion of the spine. Interspinous spacers are a relatively new treatment option that can be implanted under the minimal spinal surgical procedure. The Interspinous process devices are designed to distract (open) the foramen, where the nerve endings pass away from the center of the spinal region and into the legs. There have been many studies on the motion but stress distributions in the spine and the device are sparse.