Interlaminar Implants
OVERVIEW
The body’s muscles enable individuals to perform just about every notable physical activity. Sometimes, when certain muscles are injured, they can impact other nearby body parts. One such example is the piriformis muscle, which, when not functioning properly, can result in a medical condition called piriformis syndrome.
ANATOMY
The piriformis muscle is located in the buttocks region. Specifically, it begins at the spine’s base and attaches to the thighbones. It is located close to a major nerve called the sciatic nerve.
This muscle plays an important role in enabling persons to rotate their hip and move their legs and feet outward.

Description
Over time, injury or illness can alter these structures. Medically this is known as compression or impingement. As compression progresses, these spaces become narrower and push against the nerves. The most commonly seen form of narrowing is called spinal stenosis.

Causes
Spinal narrowing can result from any number of causes, including:
- Bone overgrowth.
- Stiff or thickened soft tissues like ligaments.
- Abnormal growths like cysts or tumors.
- Damaged spinal discs.
- Overgrowth of back and spinal bones.
Interlaminar implants can also fix spinal injuries caused by events like falls and automobile accidents.

Risk Factors
Certain factors might increase your risk of developing this problem, including:
- Age. Spinal stenosis most often strikes people aged 50 and older.
- Repeated mild trauma.
- If you are an athlete routinely competing in full-contact sports like football or wrestling, your risk increases.
- Congenital defects.
- Your risk is elevated if you were born with any type of spine defect like scoliosis or muscle or bone illness impacting the development of the spine.
Symptoms
When symptoms occur, you may experience noticeable leg discomfort. This pain, which often is cramping, occurs in one or both legs and worsens when you stand or walk for extended periods. It might ease or stop completely when you rest or sit down.
Spinal stenosis can also include other symptoms, such as back pain, leg numbness, and tingling. In more advanced cases, you may also experience weakness or immobility in your foot or leg.
Complications
If not properly diagnosed and effectively treated, spinal narrowing will only progress. Severe cases carry the potential to cause concerns, like severe leg numbness, a progressive weakening of your legs, balance challenges, the inability to voluntarily control urinary or fecal urges, and possibly even paralysis.
Diagnosis
The diagnostic process’s initial stage involves your physician performing a complete physical evaluation and carefully documenting your medical history.
Usually, confirmation of spinal compression requires the use of internal imaging equipment, such as an X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan), or computerized tomography (CT scan). These photos enable your doctor to see instances of narrowing and compression and determine their severity.
Interlaminar Implants
You might be a candidate to undergo a minimally invasive procedure called interlaminar implant treatment, sometimes referred to as interlaminar spacers.
The Procedure
During the procedure, orthopedic surgeons insert these spacing devices between spinal bones and tissues. This shifts the narrowing structures back and holds them in a fixed position.
This technique is favored over more invasive undertakings like laminectomy or fusion surgeries. Surgeons make deep incisions into your lower back during these operations to remove damaged laminae, soft tissues, and other deteriorating structures. This is done to relieve the pressure on the spine and surrounding nerves.
In spinal fusion, surgeons repair injured laminae and surgically fuse the components together.
Recovery
The speed at which you recover depends on several factors, such as your age, general health, and the severity of the narrowing. Most uncomplicated cases respond favorably, and some people may be able to return to previous activities in as little as a few weeks after the procedure. You may also need a course of physical therapy to regain lower back strength and any lost mobility.
It is important to realize you might not be an optimal candidate for this procedure. Weigh the pros and cons with your doctor before undergoing the technique.
Next Steps
If you have been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, you may be a candidate for interlaminar implants. To find if you are a good fit, please contact us and schedule a consultation. Talk to your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician today to learn more about interlaminar implants.
Areas of Focus
- Spine
- Anterior Cervical Corpectomy & Discectomy
- Artificial Disk Replacement (ADR)
- Bone Cement Injection
- Degenerative Disk Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discectomy
- Discitis Treatment & Information
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Foraminotomy
- Interlaminar Implants
- Interlaminar Lumbar Instrumental Fusion: ILIF
- Kyphoplasty (Balloon Vertebroplasty)
- Kyphosis
- Laminectomy: Decompression Surgery
- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection
- Lumbar Interbody Fusion (IBF)
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Pinched Nerve
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Fusion
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Vertebroplasty
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in Interlaminar Implants:
Specialties
- AC Joint Injuries
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion Surgery
- Anterior Cervical Corpectomy & Discectomy
- Arthroscopic Articular Cartilage Repair
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Arthroscopy Of the Ankle
- Articular Cartilage Restoration
- Artificial Disk Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa - Fluid In Elbow
- Atraumatic Shoulder Instability
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bone Cement Injection
- Bone Growth Stimulation
- Bone Health Clinic
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Clavicle Fractures
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Common Foot Fractures in Athletes
- Community Outreach
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Deep Thigh Bruising
- Degenerative Disk Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discectomy
- Discitis Treatment & Information
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries & Inner Elbow Pain in Throwing Athletes
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot Stress Fractures
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Foraminotomy
- Fractured Fingers
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Golfer's Elbow
- Groin Strains and Pulls
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hallux Rigidus Surgery - Cheilectomy
- Hammer Toe
- Hamstring Injuries
- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand & Wrist
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Hand, Wrist, Elbow & Shoulder
- Heat Injury/Heat Prostration
- High Ankle Sprain (Syndesmosis Ligament Injury)
- Hip & Thigh
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Impingement Labral Tears
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Hip Pointers and Trochanteric Bursitis
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- Iliopsoas Tenotomy
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Impingement Syndrome of the Shoulder
- Interlaminar Implants
- Interlaminar Lumbar Instrumental Fusion: ILIF
- Interventional Pain Management
- Interventional Spine
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Joint Replacement
- Knee & Leg
- Kyphoplasty (Balloon Vertebroplasty)
- Kyphosis
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- Laminectomy: Decompression Surgery
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- Lisfranc Injuries
- Little League Shoulder
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection
- Lumbar Interbody Fusion (IBF)
- MACI
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- Muscle Strains of The Calf
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Neurosurgery
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Physician Or A Podiatrist? Definition of a Podiatrist
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Patellar Fracture
- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatry
- Primary Care Sports Medicine
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Radial Tunnel Syndrome (Entrapment of the Radial Nerve)
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Runner's Knee
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Injury: Pain In The Overhead Athlete
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Separations
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Foot Injuries
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sports Wrist and Hand Injuries
- Sprained Ankle
- Sprained Wrist Symptoms and Treatment
- Subacromial Decompression
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow Treatment
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement Surgery
- Trapezius Strain (Muscle Strain of The Upper Back)
- Traumatic Shoulder Instability
- Tricep Pain & Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- Turf Toe
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wound Care
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Tendonitis
Services
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Physical Therapy
- Primary Care Sports Medicine
- PROMs (Patient-Reported Outcome Measures)
- Same-Day Orthopaedic Appointments Now Available
- Sports Medicine
- Sports-Related Concussion Treatment
- Telehealth Page
- Telemedicine
- Workers' Compensation
- Workers' Compensation Dispensary
- X-Ray