The mild® Procedure
The mild® procedure is a minimally invasive technique for treating lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) caused by ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (thickening ligaments). LSS is a narrowing of the lower spinal canal that can cause pain, numbness or tingling in the lower back, legs or buttocks, all of which can lead to difficulty in walking and standing. Study data about patients treated with the mild procedure "show that 79 percent of [LSS] patients experience a significant reduction in pain and significant increase in mobility." According to its manufacturer, Vertos Medical Inc., the mild procedure has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for treating compression in the lower spine.
The mild procedure offers several benefits over traditional surgical approaches, including:
- Extremely small incision is used
- Stitches are not required
- Performed as an outpatient procedure
- Only local anesthetic/light sedation are required
- Complications are rare
- No implants are used
- Recovery time is minimal
The mild procedure is intended for patients whose LSS is the result of thickening ligament tissue. Using imaging technology to guide the procedure, specialized instruments are inserted through a small incision to remove any ligament tissue (and small pieces of bone) that are putting pressure on nerves within the spinal canal and causing pain.