Coflex interspinous process dynamic stabilization for lumbar spinal stenosis: Long-term follow-up

Area of Science:

• Spinal Surgery
• Orthopedics
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common condition causing pain and disability.
• Dynamic stabilization devices offer an alternative to traditional fusion surgery for LSS.
• The long-term outcomes of the Coflex device in LSS treatment require further evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the long-term clinical and radiographic efficacy of the Coflex dynamic stabilization device in treating lumbar spinal stenosis.
• To evaluate the impact of Coflex on lumbar range of motion and adjacent segment degeneration (ASD).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of clinical and imaging data from 73 patients who underwent Coflex surgery.
• Minimum 8-year follow-up period to assess long-term outcomes.
• Evaluation of pain (VAS), disability (ODI), and functional scores (JOA), alongside radiographic parameters like ROM, ISH, and IFH.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in VAS, ODI, and JOA scores were observed post-surgery.
• Lumbar range of motion (ROM) decreased significantly after surgery but showed a slight increase at the final follow-up.
• Intervertebral space height (ISH) and intervertebral foramen height (IFH) increased initially but decreased over time. 19.6% experienced complications, with 10.7% requiring secondary surgery.

Conclusions:

• Coflex dynamic stabilization provides effective long-term treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis.
• The device can temporarily increase ISH and IFH of the implanted segment.
• Long-term monitoring is crucial due to potential adjacent segment changes and complications.