Dr. Richard A. Kube II is one of a handful of doctors around the country, and the first in Illinois to introduce the coflex® Interlaminar Implant to his patients at Prairie Spine and Pain Institute. The technology is a minimally invasive, non-fusion implant that allows movement of the spine in both flexion and extension, while providing stabilization between the vertebrae. In Illinois, Dr. Kube performed not only the first coflex® implant at the Prairie Spine & Pain Institute, he also performed the first two level coflex® implant.
“Our first patient back in November has already shown remarkable improvement in levels of pain and function,” said Dr. Kube.
In October, Paradigm Spine LLC was granted FDA approval for coflex® for the treatment of moderate to severe spinal stenosis. The coflex® implant is placed in between the vertebrae following decompression surgery to provide stability in the spinal column.
“We often decompress the spinal nerves to help relieve pain,” said Dr. Kube. “In a number of those cases, especially when there is underlying spinal instability, we have to fuse the patient at the time of the decompression. This device helps us to lower the number of fusions we have to perform.”
Implanting the coflex® is a minimally invasive procedure and is performed at Prairie SurgiCare. The coflex® implant has shown significant improvement pain and function, with a shorter operating time and faster patient recovery. In time patients show greater and natural mobility at treatment and adjacent levels which should theoretically lead to fewer revision surgeries. In addition to the added outcomes benefits, this procedure also allows for faster recover at a lower cost.
For more information about the coflex® Interlaminar Implant, call (309) 691-7774 to schedule an appointment.
