Refuse to Fuse.
Choose to Move.

“Having a TOPS procedure has been wonderful for me! It has allowed me to avoid a spinal fusion and has given me the opportunity to do things I love to do! I’m very active, and I can now move normally without pain or fear of further damage. My surgery was in May of 2024 with Dr. James Lindley of Savannah, Georgia

I am able to do everything I want to do as far as activities and sports. I’m very active.

If you are a candidate for TOPS, take my advice and do it! I’ve never regretted it.”

“I have been pain-free and able to get back to regular activities, such as golf and pickleball. The recovery was quick. I was able to walk about 2 miles a day at 4 weeks after surgery.”

“Before TOPS surgery my feet were numb, I could not sit for extended periods, walking up an incline was difficult. I was unable to enjoy everyday activities. After TOPS, almost immediately the discomfort was gone. I regained flexibility. The numbness in my feet abated and I was able to sit without discomfort. I feel I have regained at least 95%, if not more, of my life. I can do most anything I had done prior to the problems that came with my spondylolisthesis.

I had TOPS surgery in June of 2025 with Dr. Jared Ament. Because there is no fusion with TOPS, the results are immediate. There was no need for PT, and the main recovery was the surgery site. I climbed the stairs the day of the surgery & was walking the next day.

I performed improv on stage in Long Beach, CA, rode Space Mountain at Disneyland and sat in a Corvette at the Los Angeles Auto Show. I couldn’t sit in a Corvette prior to TOPS.

The investment in gaining your life back is worth the cost and some surgery discomfort.”

“My kid gets married August 1st. Guess what? I’m going to dance at his wedding. Prior to this, I wasn’t even sure if I was going to be able to be there all night.

I’ve had multiple accidents. Even with the injuries, nothing stopped me. I was very active, deep woods camping, fishing, kayaking, I coached football for 10 years.

Five years ago, it changed. I couldn’t do anything anymore except work. Life changed for the worst. I was googling and found TOPS and Dr. Roland Kent. And if there was an opportunity to get a device that was going to preserve motion, yeah, not even a choice.

15 days after surgery I was walking almost two miles. I can’t explain. I can feel my legs again. Before the surgery, the neuropathy was in the bottoms of my feet, and I haven’t felt the bottoms of my feet for three years. My life is back. I’m looking forward to everything again and then some. Whatever I want. I’m not going to be limited.”

“I was a candidate for TOPS because of the grade of spondylolisthesis I had. I found Dr. Steven DeLuca through the Premia Spine website, who was the first doctor to do this surgery in the United States. He was local to me! It was a smooth transition with my insurance too. I had so much pain before this surgery.  I am now 9 months post-op. Recovery was slow, and I still have a bit to go before its 100%.

Movement is medicine and I got stronger with Pilates.  I played a round of golf on Tuesday! After playing, I was not in pain as I used to be before this surgery. I remember trying to golf in April of 2025 and I just cried in pain after 3 swings. I didn’t play again until May 5, 2026.

Thanks to a S1-L4 fusion with TOPS at L4-L5 I am pain free and looking forward to the future with no likelihood of adjacent joint disease. I feel I can do anything. I’m very grateful. I’m living life, biking, golfing and exercising.”

“One year after surgery and some therapy, I am relatively pain free and have essentially the same range of motion that I had before my back problems and the TOPS and decompression surgery. Recovery was fairly easy. No braces were necessary. I was back doing most everything that I wanted to do after six months.

Recovery is a lot easier than going through a fusion. Other doctors recommended a double fusion. The TOPS procedure and adjacent decompressions have relieved my problems.”

Commercial insurance coverage for the TOPS procedure is improving, but approvals still vary by payer and plan. Surgeons discuss current challenges, appeal pathways, peer-to-peer reviews, and how support resources can help patients navigate the process.

Surgeons explain that prior spinal surgery does not rule out TOPS. Patients who previously had decompression or laminectomy may still be candidates if they meet the appropriate clinical criteria.

Surgeons explain that spinal fusion eliminates motion at the treated level, while TOPS is designed to preserve motion and support more natural spine mechanics. TOPS may also be converted to fusion if needed.

Surgeons explain that fusion stops motion at one spinal level, increasing stress above and below. TOPS helps preserve motion at the treated segment, which may reduce adjacent segment disease and future degeneration.