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MODEL RELEASED. Spinal decompression and stabilisation surgery. Image 1 of 8. Surgeon making an incision in the back of a patient in order to perform surgery on the spine. This patient has spinal stenosis, where a narrowing has put pressure on the spinal cord. The surgery will remove parts of the lumbar vertebrae in order to relieve the pressure (decompression), and also insert a Wallis ligament implant. The Wallis ligament is a form of dynamic stabiliser. It prevents excess movement of the spinal segments at fault, whilst still allowing natural movement to occur. The implant itself is inserted between the spinous processes of two adjoining vertebrae in order to hold them apart. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY)