Altum

http://www.innovativesurgicaldesigns.com/altum/

Retrospective case series evaluated the clinical and radiographic outcomes of a new minimally invasive procedure to treat Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS): pedicle-lengthening osteotomy using the ALTUM system (Innovative Surgical Designs, Inc., Bloomington, Indiana, United States). Peri- and postoperative demographic and radiographic data were collected from a clinical series of seven patients with moderate LSS who were > 60 years of age. Clinical outcome was evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) scores and the spinal canal area on computed tomography scans.

Twelve months after the procedure, scoring revealed a median improvement of 3.7 on the VAS for the back and 6.3 on the VAS for the leg, compared with the preoperative baseline (p < 0.05). The postoperative central area of the lumbar canal was significantly increased, by 0.39 cm2; the right and left neural foramina were enlarged by 0.29 cm2 and 0.47 cm2, respectively (p < 0.05).

In this preliminary study, the ALTUM system showed a good clinical and radiologic outcome 1 year after surgery. In an older or high-risk population, a short minimally invasive procedure may be beneficial for treating LSS ¹⁾.