Twin Cities Pain Clinic Successfully Completes Its First Vertiflex® Implant
The first Vertiflex® implant procedure at Twin Cities Pain Clinic was successfully completed last week! Dr. Travis O’Brien, with the assistance of our friends from Boston Scientific, performed the outpatient procedure at our ambulatory surgery center in Burnsville with exceptional results.
Vertiflex® is designed to offer significant relief from pain caused by lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), a condition that occurs when an area of the lower (lumbar) spine narrows and pinches the nerves running through it. The pain usually decreases when bending forward or sitting. This is often referred to as the “shopping cart sign,” because patients with lumbar spinal stenosis often feel relief from their symptoms when leaning forward over a shopping cart.
Vertiflex® provides the same kind of relief by reducing spinal compression, but without requiring the patient to lean forward. A small, titanium alloy spacer is implanted into the area of the spine where the nerves are being pinched. Small arms on the spacer then fold open around the spinous processes, locking the spacer in place. The spacer prevents the spinous processes from compressing together, which stops the nerves from getting pinched.
This unique therapy has proven effective at providing long-term relief in 90% of cases. The procedure is also entirely reversible, meaning the implant can be removed if necessary.
Congratulations to Dr. O’Brien on a successful inaugural implant. We also want to thank our partners at Boston Scientific for their assistance with the first of what will be many Vertiflex® procedures.
