To ensure that you have all the information you or your loved ones need, below are the questions most asked by patients who’ve used the Coflex® Interlaminar Stabilization® device:

Every treatment is different, and what’s right for you will vary depending on the severity of your LSS, how active your lifestyle is or what symptoms you experience most. It’s important to understand your treatment plan, and how it will fit into your life in the long term. Some examples of conservative care that may be recommended for you include physical therapy, acupuncture, or getting the proper exercise. If your LSS is more severe, you may require a surgical procedure.

Depending on the severity of your LSS, you may be able to successfully treat it without surgery. For more severe cases, there are several surgical options. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment for you.

If you choose to undergo surgery, it’s important to know up front what effects it may have over time. For example, spinal fusion may limit back mobility and flexibility while decompression alone may cause your spine to lose its strength.

There are many peer-reviewed publications on the Coflex® device, making it one of the most studied lumbar spinal devices on the market. Learn more

Setting expectations for recovery up front is essential before going into any surgical procedure. Communicate with your doctor about creating an after-surgery plan.

The metal that makes up the Coflex® device may affect MR imaging and metal detectors. You should alert any technicians that you have a titanium device implanted in your spine. You should also consider making this declaration if you’re traveling and have to pass through an electronic detection system.

Non-clinical testing has shown that the Coflex® Interlaminar Stabilization® device is MR conditional and can be scanned safely under the following conditions:

  • Static magnetic field of 1.5 Tesla (1.5T) or 3.0 Tesla (3.0T)
  • Spatial gradient field of up to:
    • 11,230 G/cm (112.3T/m) for 1.5T systems
    • 5,610 G/cm (56.1T/m) for 3.0T systems
  • Maximum whole body averaged specific absorption rate (SAR) of:
    • 0 W/kg for 15 minutes of scanning in Normal Operating Mode at 1.5T
    • 0 W/kg for 15 minutes of scanning in Normal Operating Mode at 3.0T

To learn more about MRI compatibility, review our full list of specifications. (downloadable PDF link)

Your level of post-surgical physical activity may vary depending on the extent of your decompression. Your spine surgeon will likely ask you to come in for a follow-up visit approximately six weeks after your procedure. During those six weeks, the spine surgeon may ask you to limit your physical activity, based on various factors.

In almost all cases, your pain will be significantly relieved, because the cause of the stenosis will have been surgically remedied. Some patients do experience some pain at the site of the incision, but this usually subsides considerably in the days and weeks following surgery.

In a U.S. FDA clinical study, patients left the hospital on average in less than two days.1 In some cases, the spine specialist may elect to perform the procedure in a surgery center, which means that those patients will not require a hospital stay.

¹ Every patient is different; therefore, results may vary.

In some cases, patients have reported using pain medication to deal with post-surgery symptoms.

In some cases, your doctor may prescribe physical therapy to help you get back to an activity and mobility level that you can be comfortable with.

During the clinical study, walking during the first six weeks following surgery was usually acceptable. Additionally, patients were allowed to travel and engage in light activity such as walking as soon as they felt they could.1

It’s important to remember that you have had a surgical operation. Always follow your spine surgeon’s instructions on how much activity you can undertake and for how long.

  1. “Evaluation of decompression and Interlaminar Stabilization compared with decompression and fusion for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis: 5-year follow-up of a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.” Musacchio, M., International Journal of Spine Surgery, 2016.