Minuteman Procedure

The Minuteman procedure is a treatment option offered for patients with spinal stenosis who have failed to manage their pain with conservative treatments and medications. Patients with spinal stenosis typically have increased back pain when straightening out their back, such as when they are sleeping or standing/sitting up straight for extended periods of time. The Minuteman procedure involves widening of the interlaminar space of the spinal sections, while fusing the vertebrae together to provide stability. Kansas Pain Management utilizes a lateral approach, preserving the supraspinous ligament and also avoiding nerve roots and blood vessels to minimize complications for the patients. A bone graft within the spacer is coated with hydroxyapatite to allow for ingrowth of bone and lets the patient’s spine form a more natural fusion. This procedure is performed with the patient under sedation, while being carefully monitored by our anesthesia providers to ensure minimum complications.

Conditions treated with Minuteman procedure:

• Lumbar spinal instability
• Spinal stenosis at single level
• Spondylolisthesis
• Degenerative disc disease (DJD)
• Lumbar fusion following prior spinal surgery
• Pseudoarthrosis 12 months from prior spinal surgery