I don't believe that there is any spine surgery that even approaches 97%. I discussed the interspineous devices with a leading surgeon yesterday and asked, "Why have these devices not lived up to the promise we saw in them 5 years ago?" My layperson's understanding of what was said is that the interspineous devices are great for stenosis in old people who's spines are largely immobilized anyway. Most of the interspineous devices really limit motion are are often like fusion devices. The way they force the segments into kyphosis (forward tilt) reduces your lordosis and can generate flat back syndrome. Flat back can really cause problems. They used to fuse in that position, but abandoned that because of the problems caused by loss of spinal balance when you reconfigure it so substantially.
Mark
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