The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery issued a policy statement recommending coverage of decompression with interlaminar stabilization.
Here are five insights:
1. Richard Guyer, MD, et al, published, "ISASS Recommendations/Coverage Criteria for Decompression with Interlaminar Stabilization – Coverage Indications, Limitations, and/or Medical Necessity," in the International Journal of Spine Surgery.
2. The policy statement recommends covering lumbar decompression with interlaminar stabilization for certain lumbar spinal stenosis patients, either without "gross instability or in which the decompression procedure itself may create iatrogenic instability."
3. Further, the policy notes the benefits provided by Paradigm Spine's coflex Interlaminar Stabilization device compared to fusion, stating: "decompression with interlaminar stabilization has proven to provide equivalent outcomes with a reduced cost compared to decompression plus fusion."
4. The coflex Interlaminar Stabilization device is the only spine device with FDA premarket approval for up to a Grade I spondylolisthesis with a concomitant decompression.
5. The coflex device is designed to maintain motion, decrease leg and back pain as well as preserve foraminal height.