A New Device for Spinal Stenosis to Put a Spring in Your Step

A new device for spinal stenosis, which affects thousands of people is being tested in America. The implant spring called Coflex is designed to relieve the pressure on your spine and nerves. The U shaped titanium alloy device is inserted between two vertebrae, propping up the narrowed spinal canal, but it is not stiff like traditional fusion surgery, where the vertebrae are fused together but which limits mobility. At the moment only 35 people in the US have had this device fitted so far in comparison to 2,500 fitted in Europe. However they do state that it will stiffen with age, and is only available for those with leg and back pain. Another plus is that apart from the flexibility you have from this surgery, recovery time is only about a month in comparison to traditional surgery which can take up to a year to recover from.