Patients who suffer from spinal stenosis syndrome indicated on one or two levels are ideal candidates for interspinous implants. After conservative methods of treatment fail, the treating of these patients is continued surgically. Interspinous implant overcomes the therapeutic gap between conservative and aggressive surgical methods of treatment and enables remission of patients discomfort along with minimal surgical risks. Main indications for coflex interspinous implant are: radiographically confirmed moderate to severe stenosis of the spinal canal with clinical signs of neurogenic claudication and/or foraminal stenosis syndrome caused by a degenerative process on the spine. Coflex implant is indicated to 1 or 2 levels in the region of L1 to S1.

If you’re tired of the numbness, weakness, tingling or burning sensation and the chronic pain of lumbar spinal stenosis, there is some encouraging news. Advances in medical technology and new investigative devices may offer new hope.

One such investigational device is coflex®—a dynamic stabilization implant designed to create spinal stability while working to return your spine to a state that more closely resembles its normal physiology.

A paradigm shift from fusion to non-fusion is not a conceptual exercise. The gap in the treatment continuum from conservative care to fusion is being filled with early-stage technologies such as interspinous stabilization. The success of these technologies will evolve through surgeon driven, indication specific solutions for the clinical problems faced in the surgeon’s daily practice.

Non-fusion procedures will allow for the spine to restabilize toward its natural biomechanical state, allow for rebalancing of the spinal segment, restoring natural anatomical function, and perhaps lead to some degree of “re-healing”. These procedures will fill the large gap in the treatment continuum while being reversible and delaying a permanent surgical procedure such as a spinal fusion. Intraoperative instability after decompression can be stabilized by interspinous devices. If late instability is projected, interspinous stabilization may prevent this.

Interspinous stabilization with coflex is ideal in cases of facet arthrosis and all related decompressive procedures. Implantation of coflex allows for segmental stabilization, controlling motion.

Specific Indication

For patients who fail conservative treatment, but who are not candidates for a complete laminectomy or an irreversible procedure such as fusion, functional interspinous implants are the answer.

Main indication:

Radiographically confirmed moderate to severe stenosis with neural element compromise resulting in claudication and/or radicular symptoms isolated to 1 or 2 levels, in the region of L1 to L5 with or without concomitant low back pain including conditions such as stable grade 1 spondylolisthesis. Interspinous stabilization is performed after microsurgical decompression of stenosis at the affected level(s). The coflex™ implant may also be used in up to 2 lumbar motion segments adjacent to fused level(s).

Images taken during Coflex spine surgery in our clinic (images are copyrighted):