Vertiflex™ Superion is an innovative, evidence-based procedure setting the standard of care for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. At Pain Consultants of Atlanta, the team of premier pain management specialists offers this leading-edge minimally invasive treatment in four offices located in Atlanta, Fayetteville, Stockbridge and Newnan, Georgia, so you can get the best pain management anywhere in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Book your appointment online or call the office nearest you today.
Vertiflex™ Superion is a minimally invasive procedure for chronic back pain caused by lumbar spinal stenosis.
In lumbar spinal stenosis, the spinal canal essentially shrinks in your lower back, leaving less space for your spinal cord and nerves. This often happens due to wear-and-tear and regular degenerative changes over time.
The Superion procedure places a small implant that restores standard spinal canal spacing. This, in turn, relieves your pain and other symptoms like tingling or numbness.
You’ll receive local anesthesia and lie on your stomach for the procedure. You’ll be awake but won’t experience pain or anxiety.
The procedure requires just one short incision, and the team uses fluoroscopic X-ray guidance to determine the ideal spot for the Superion implant.
They move the muscles above your spine to each side, creating a tunnel directly to the affected part of the spine before installing the tiny H-shaped implant between the bony projections on the back of the affected vertebrae. This widens the spinal canal and keeps it open.
There are many size options for the Superion implant, so the team can choose the one that’s right for your unique spinal anatomy. You’ll usually have a few stitches and receive incision care instructions before you go home.
Superion candidates often experience:
Pain usually worsens when walking and standing and lessens when sitting or bending forward.
If you have symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis that’s unrelieved with conservative care, such as physical therapy, or injections, such as epidural steroid injections, the Superion procedure could be right for you.
Superion is like a middle ground between nonsurgical care and procedures like laminectomy, allowing you to avoid major surgery while getting the pain relief you need.
The Superion implant is made of a titanium alloy, so people who are allergic to titanium can’t have this procedure. People with osteoporotic fractures, significant bone thinning, notable lower spine instability, or scoliosis may need to consider other avenues of relief.
Pain Consultants of Atlanta is helping people get back to walking, dancing, running, and playing with their kids and grandkids through the Superion procedure. To learn more, call the office nearest you or book an appointment online today.