Anyone had a interspinous process device (Minuteman) fusion procedure?

Hi @harvey2007, as you probably know, Minuteman is one brand of interspinous process device (IPD). There are many brands and types. Here are 2 articles reviewing the different devices:
- https://www.sfspine.com/interspinous-process-devices/ https://www.sfspine.com/interspinous-process-devices/
- Interspinous process devices for treatment of degenerative lumbar spine stenosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6034833/

I'm tagging fellow members who may have first-hand experience with an IPD or are looking into it as well, members like @ftco @esperanza22 @jfsherley and @eskimo88.

Harvey, what have you learned about the Minuteman device? Pros? Cons?

Thanks so much @colleenyoung
I don’t know much about it except I read it is a very non invasive way to do a fusion. Is that correct?

From reading the articles that @colleenyoung had kindly provided, it seems that the IPD usage has advantage in being minimally invasive (easier/quicker recovery) but with significantly higher risks of complications and no better overall results than the conservative surgery. And it is also (AMAZINGLY) apparent that (sadly) there's not enough good and solid comparative data/studies about the IPD results

I had one done at L4,L5. My previous fusion was an ALIF 360 at L5,S1 with a polymer disc replacement and hardware in the front.
I had to log roll out of bed for three days and my wife helped me to walk, I have a three inch incision on my flank so the access tubes must have be quite long. I had to phone in and ask for more pain medicine a week early but this was an ambulatory center procedure. The literature states a 3 day hospital stay is sufficient. I preferred the pain control provided in a hospital environment, I have advanced OA, Spinal Stenosis:Lumbar and Cervical.The procedure was done November 18, 2021 so the jury is still out on the results. Nothing dramatic. Infact, I have noticed my legs ache now below the knees and the pain relief we were going for was pain above the buttocks which is magnified 10X just from setting out the trash. You are still going to need at least as much pain medicine and more post op at home,

Has anyone actually had the Minuteman procedure done? My husband is considering it. Would appreciate any input pros and cons.

It's promoted as 90% successful....maybe so....but I just had it....and 2 weeks later I'm in the same position. They ask your pain level 1 week after where there is almost always a big improvement and I think they use those stats as the published results. But just 1 more week later I'm no different than I was at my worst. It might be right for others. Dr. Patel at North Shore Pain Mgt. Massachusetts, affiliated with Mass General is a reliable consult

Did you have the Minuteman or surgical fusion?

Liz

My pain Dr. Does this procedure he is also no doing a non invasive SI joint fusion I guess with 3 small screws. It has been 4 yrs since I shattered my L4. No fusion just epidurals and RF's he now want pelvic and low spine CT' I think this is what he is thinking. I really hesitant letting a pain Dr do anything on my back. Will see what he says then consider another option. I am in Twin cities. MN.

I had 2 Vertiflex procedures which are similar. They seem to work well for a lot of people, but I was not one of them. These procedures are usually done by doctors other than surgeons, mine was an anesthesiologist. Unfortunately, he did not have that much knowledge of the spine anatomy. I have severe spinal CANAL stenosis, which at that stage cannot be be helped by the implants, and they may actually exacerbate the problem. After a year of pain and decreasing mobility, I went to an actual spine surgeon. Will have a laminectomy shortly. Suggest you get a second opinion from a spine expert. Good luck.

Thank you for your input. We still are looking for a procedure that can help. Very hard decision.