Vertiflex Procedure in Austin, TX

What to Expect During a Vertiflex Procedure

If your chronic pain has not responded to traditional approaches, such as epidural injections or physical therapy, our Austin pain doctors may deem you a good candidate for a Vertiflex implant. During a Vertiflex procedure, patients will receive a local anesthetic to anesthetize the affected area. The doctor will then make a small incision, use a live x-ray to insert the Vertiflex Superion implant, and adjust its wings so it slowly spreads the vertebrae apart. Once the implant is secured in place, the incision is closed with surgical glue or a small stitch. The entire Vertiflex procedure typically takes 20 to 30 minutes.

After a Vertiflex procedure, patients can often expect to enjoy a significant reduction in pain almost immediately. While healing time varies, patients should avoid rigorous physical activity for about 6 weeks and engage only in light to moderate activity during that time. The Vertiflex procedure should provide chronic pain relief for about two years. At that point, or once it wears down, the Vertiflex implant can be replaced during another minimally-invasive procedure.