Dr. James Lynch at SpineNevada Minimally Invasive Spine Institute recently became the first in Northern Nevada to use the coflex® Dynamic Stabilization device for the treatment of Spinal Stenosis. This non-fusion treatment option can help spinal stenosis patients return to activity faster than with decompression and fusion.
SpineNevada Minimally Invasive Spine Institute understands that one thing our patients value most in life is the ability to maintain an active lifestyle. As we get older, daily activities may be limited due to back or neck pain conditions — including spinal stenosis. If simple activities such as working around the house, grocery shopping, riding a bike or walking for exercise means pain, numbness, or weakness in your lower extremities, SpineNevada is in the position to help.
Educational animation ©Paradigm Spine, used with permission
Spinal stenosis is a condition that can develop as a person ages, particularly in those over 50. It is characterized by a narrowing of the spinal canal, which places pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, because there is not enough room for them. The primary contributing factor to the development of stenosis is degenerative disc disease or osteoarthritis. It resembles placing a ring on your finger. If the finger becomes injured or inflamed, the ring constricts and causes pain.
Click here to download an educational PDF on the coflex® device for spine surgery.
If you suffer from lumbar spinal stenosis, you may feel various symptoms. You may find these symptoms especially noticeable when you stand or walk:*
Often, patients notice relief of their symptoms when they sit down for a short period of time, but when they return to walking, symptoms quickly come back.
Once diagnosed with spinal stenosis, treating the condition usually starts with non-surgical, “conservative” options. If you experience mild to moderate back and leg symptoms from spinal stenosis, you may feel relief from the following non-surgical options:
If non-surgical treatment options do not offer lasting relief, a surgical procedure may be recommended. The ultimate goal of surgery is to increase the area of the spinal canal by relieving pressure on the spinal sac and nerves that are trying to extend to the rest of your body. There are a few different surgical treatments that can possibly help relieve your pain from spinal stenosis, including the coflex® solution available first in Northern Nevada at SpineNevada.
The coflex® Interlaminar Stabilization™ device is a titanium implant that goes in the back of your spine to treat moderate to severe spinal stenosis. After your surgeon performs a decompression that can remove bone, facet, ligament and/or disc segments from the narrowed spinal canal, your spine can become unstable. The coflex® device is inserted to help keep your spine stable while maintaining normal height and motion in your spine after surgical decompression. The design and location of the coflex® device in your back helps offset the joints in your spine that are contributing to your back and leg symptoms.
After your surgeon has performed a decompression, coflex® is implanted to help maintain the decompression.
The coflex® device keeps your spine stable after surgical decompression & maintains foraminal height of your spine where the coflex® was implanted.
The coflex® device allows for physiologic motion, including flexion and extension, that allows for the spinal segment to maintain appropriate motion after surgical stabilization.
The coflex® device is inserted through a small, midline incision.
coflex® device* | Traditional Surgery with Fusion | |
---|---|---|
Post Surgical Symptom Relief | At 6 weeks, 90% of coflex® patients showed relief of their spinal stenosis symptoms. At 2 years, 88% of coflex® patients showed lasting relief of their spinal stenosis symptoms | At 6 weeks, 77% of fusion patients showed relief of their spinal stenosis symptoms. At 2 years, 78% of fusion patients showed lasting relief of their spinal stenosis symptoms |
Patient Satisfaction | At 2 years, 94% of coflex® patients were satisfied with their outcome | At 2 years, 87% of fusion patients were satisfied with their outcome |
Surgical Time & Blood Loss | Surgeries using the coflex® device take approximately 98 minutes, 36% faster than traditional fusion surgeries. The average amount of blood loss during the coflex® solution is 110cc. | Fusion surgeries take approximately 153 minutes. The average amount of blood loss during the fusion solution is 349cc. |
Length of Hospital Stay | coflex® patients spend approximately 1.9 days in the hospital. | Fusion patients spend approximately 3.2 days in the hospital. |
Post Surgical Stabilization and Range of Motion | At 2 years, coflex® patients retained their pre-operative range of motion (within 10%) at the area of treatment. coflex® patients retained their pre-operative range of motion (within 15%) at the areas below and above the treatment area. | At 2 years, fusion patients saw a 25-50% increase in unnatural motion at the areas below and above the treatment area. |
The statements contained herein are not provided by Paradigm Spine except as specifically noted, and are not intended to constitute claims regarding the safety or efficacy of the product. This advertisement is wholly paid for by SpineNevada and does not constitute an endorsement of or by Paradigm Spine.
Educational animation ©Paradigm Spine, used with permission
*Data in the table above based on validated clinical measurements from a randomized FDA clinical study comparing the coflex® Interlaminar Technology to pedicle screw fusion surgery for moderate to severe spinal stenosis. Every patient is different; therefore, results may vary. All data is on file at Paradigm Spine, LLC.
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