The XClose™ Tissue Repair System
Spine & Neuro Now Offers A Unique Solution For Common Low Back Problem
A breakthrough technique for herniated disc repair is now available for north Alabama residents. Using a patented technology called Xclose™, physicians at Spine & Neuro Center are able to offer this minimally-invasive procedure to local back patients.
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Herniated or "bulging" lumbar discs cause serious back pain that affects nearly 800,000 people each year. And while surgery to repair herniated discs is common, so is a second surgery. Previously, doctors had no effective way to close the incision, which can contribute to re-herniation in up to 15‰ of patients.
With Xclose, Spine & Neuro surgeons can both repair the disc and close the incision, potentially reducing the incidence of re-herniation.
Spine & Neuro is the only practice in Alabama and one of only 35 sites in the country participating in a national study on the device. It is FDA-approved, and Huntsville-area residents can benefit from the exclusive access provided by Spine & Neuro.
The minimally-invasive technique was developed by Anulex Technologies. It allows the doctor to perform the disc repair quickly, plus recovery time is minimized - typical patients are back to normal in just a few weeks.
For more information on Xclose, or to have scans evaluated, please call
Spine & Neuro Center at 256-533-1600 or toll-free at 1-888-736-1762.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a herniated or "bulging" disc?
A herniated disc is a rupture in the tissue that surrounds the disc (annulus fibrosus) causing the soft inner portion of the disc (nucleus pulposus) to push out and compress the nerve root. Herniated discs can occur at any level of the spine including the neck but most commonly occurs in the lower back. Currently, disc repair is only available for the lower back.
What are symptoms of a herniated disc?
Symptoms of a herniated disc may include dull or sharp back pain, muscle spasm, leg weakness or numbness, or radiating pain extending from the buttock into the leg and sometimes into the foot.
Do your physicians use minimally-invasive technique to remove the herniation?
Yes. Our neurosurgeons perform a minimally-invasive technique called a Microdiscectomy to remove the disc fragment off the spinal nerve. A microdiscectomy is performed through a small 14-18 millimeter tube using a high-power lighted microscope. This technique reduces recovery time and incision size.
Why repair the annulus?
Repairing and sealing the annulus after a surgical microdiscectomy procedure for a herniated disc may reduce reoperations and improve patient outcomes by:
- Providing a barrier to restrict disc material from re-extruding and compressing on the nerve root causing pain.
- Reducing inflammation and scar formation of the nerve root and surrounding tissues
- Enabling less extensive disc material removal during the microdiscectomy procedure, allowing for better patient outcomes and maintenance of disc height.
Do all your doctors perform Xclose?
Yes. All five neurosurgeons at Spine & Neuro perform the Xclose procedure. Spine & Neuro Center is the only medical practice in Huntsville and surrounding areas performing this technique.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Please call 256-533-1600 or toll free at 1-888-736-1762 for an appointment.
