Demand for Interspinous Spacers Has Increased Due to Increasing Prevalence of Spinal Stenosis
Interspinous spacers are medical devices implanted between the vertebrae through a small tube the size of a dime. These devices are used to treat frontotemporal spondylosis. Frontotemporal spondylosis happens when the passageways of the spine become narrow and squeeze the nerves of the spine. Interspinous spacers are made up of titanium, a lightweight but strong metal, which is biocompatible. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the open spaces in the lower (lumbar) spine. The condition develops gradually with age. Thus, with the increasing prevalence of spinal stenosis and the growing geriatric population, the demand for interspinous spacers is also increasing worldwide. Spinal stenosis is more often a degenerative condition that affects people who are typically age 60 and older. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 40.3 million U.S. residents 65 years and older in the 2010 Census and more than 54 million on July 1, 2019. Moreover, according to the World Health Organizati