Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (MILD)

Minimally invasive lumbar decompression, commonly referred to as the mild^® Procedure, is an outpatient procedure that relieves pressure on the spine. Like a water hose that has pressure on it or a drinking straw with a kink in it, the spinal canal can narrow and compress the spinal canal nerves in the lower back. To restore space in the spinal canal and reduce the compression of the nerves—or in the case of the water hose and drinking straw, increase the flow—a mild^® Doctor uses an imaging machine and specialized tools to remove small pieces of bone and thickened ligament.

The mild^® Procedure is different from traditional back surgery because it is an outpatient procedure that does not require general anesthesia, implants, stitches, steroids or opioids. Typically completed in less than an hour, mild^® can be performed through a single, tiny incision smaller than the size of a baby aspirin (5.1 mm) using only local anesthetic and light sedation and leaves no implants behind. With a safety profile similar to an epidural steroid injection (ESI), but with lasting results, mild^® addresses a major root cause of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and can be performed as a steroid-free procedure, which limits immunosuppression risks associated with ESIs.

When diagnosing lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), a medical history that lists your symptoms will be reviewed. Symptoms may include pain or numbness in the lower back when standing upright; pain, numbness, heaviness or tingling in upper legs and buttocks when walking; pain when lying down that may be relieved by curling into fetal position and temporary relief when bending forward. Other tests, including a physical examination to assess mobility, may also be performed as well as imaging, such as x-rays, an MRI or a CT scan.

Mild^® may help patients diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) stand longer and walk farther with less pain by treating the underlying cause of LSS symptoms in a minimally invasive way.

Benefits of the mild^® Procedure

• Outpatient procedure, typically performed in less than 1 hour
• Patients typically resume normal activity within 24 hours with no restrictions
• Requires no general anesthesia, implants, stitches, steroids or opioids
• Low complication risk profile and high efficacy profile as demonstrated in clinical studies

Following the mild^® Procedure, most patients return home the same day and typically resume normal activity within 24 hours with no restrictions.

Yes, the mild^® Device kit was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for lumbar decompressive procedures.

The mild^® Procedure is covered by Medicare (all ages, all plan types) nationwide and many commercial insurers are currently reviewing payment policies. Talk to Dr. Roufaiel to obtain coverage specifics for your plan type.

You can contact Dr. Roufaiel’s office to book an appointment to learn more and read more here at Vertos Medical.