Minuteman® procedure
The Minuteman® procedure is a minimally invasive, opioid-free outpatient treatment that is clinically proven to provide long-term relief from back pain caused by lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, and spondylolisthesis.
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What is the Minuteman procedure?
Minuteman is a minimally invasive, interspinous fusion procedure intended for the stabilization of the spine.
The Minuteman utilizes a unique, state-of-the-art device that is implanted through the interspinous ligament and affixed in place between two spinal vertebrae. Bone graft material inside the device allows the implant to fuse with the tissues of the interspinous ligament, locking it in place.
The implant prevents the adjacent vertebrae from compressing together, which can lead to pinched nerves, while also keeping the vertebrae from slipping out of place.
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What can I expect during the procedure?
You will be brought into the procedure room and laid face down on a special table. Sedation will be administered prior to the procedure. Your skin will be cleaned at the injection site and a local anesthetic will be applied to limit discomfort.
Your physician makes a tiny incision in your side. Special implantation tools are passed through the incision and placed next to the appropriate place on your spine. A small opening is made in the interspinous ligament.
The Minuteman device is implanted through the opening. Tiny, wing-like structures are deployed to lock the implant in place. The tools are removed, and the incision is stitched and bandaged. The procedure takes around one hour to complete.
What can I expect after the procedure?
You will be moved into the recovery area and monitored by a nurse for a short time. Once you have adequately recovered, you will be given post-operative care instructions and can then go home.
Full recovery generally takes between four and eight weeks. During this time, you will need to avoid bending, twisting, lifting more than 5-10 pounds, and strenuous physical activity. Actual recovery time varies, so it is important that you closely follow the instructions provided by your care team.
You may experience tenderness or aggravated symptoms at the injection site for a few days. Your care team will provide guidance on post procedure pain management.
The Minuteman procedure at Twin Cities Pain Clinic
The surgical team at Twin Cities Pain Clinic are clinically trained experts in performing the Minuteman procedure and are proud to offer it as a long-term solution to chronic back pain.
Minuteman has been shown to successfully reduce pain levels by more than half1. Due to its minimally invasive nature, Minuteman carries far less risk and shorter recovery times than more invasive spinal fusion procedures.
Schedule an appointment with Twin Cities Pain Clinic to see if the Minuteman procedure can help relieve your chronic back pain.
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12023 Shah et. al, Journal of Pain Research | 2023 Hedman et. al., Cureus | 2023 Skoblar et. al., Journal of Pain Research
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