Dynamic Stabilization for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis With Stabilimax NZ® Dynamic Spine Stabilization System

Degenerative spine disease is a normal part of the aging process. This degeneration can sometimes cause significant pain and limit normal movement. The pain can be from many sources. For patients being enrolled into this study the pain has been diagnosed to be primarily as a result of a condition called spinal stenosis. The current standard of care for the treatment of moderate to severe spinal stenosis is a surgical procedure that relieves the pressure on the spinal cord and nerves is called decompression surgery. The surgeon removes the tissue and bone that are causing the narrowing thus relieving the pinching of the spinal cord and nerve roots. After surgery, the patient may have a spine that is too unstable. In other words the muscles and ligaments around the spine have to work too hard to maintain normal posture and to control movement. For many years those patients with unstable backs have received fusion therapy. Fusion is the development of bone between the vertebra to stabilize the spine and prevent motion. This is done by inserting a bone graft around the vertebra being treated and placing a rigid brace called a fusion device to prevent movement. Eventually bone will form between the vertebra and the spine will become "fused". In this study we will be conducting research to evaluate a new, investigative medical device that is designed to brace and support the spine just like fusion but without fusing in the patient's spine. Devices that do this are called "motion preserving" or "dynamic stabilizing" spinal devices. The investigational device that is being evaluated in this study is called the Stabilimax NZ® Dynamic Spinal Stabilization System. The Stabilimax NZ® is inserted and fixed to the vertebra by means of pedicle screws in exactly the same way a fusion device is inserted and attached. The only difference is that for the Stabilimax NZ® no bone graft will be placed around or between the vertebra to promote bone growth for fusion. Patients in the study will receive either the Stabilimax NZ® or will receive a fusion procedure. The study is a randomized controlled clinical trial using a 2:1 investigational:control randomization scheme. The study will enroll 480 patients at approximately 20 investigational sites across the United States.