The Orthopedic Group Offers New Treatment for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

In the United States, nearly five out of every 1,000 people over the age of 50 have symptoms from spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of one or more spaces in the spine which can compress the spinal cord or nerve roots exiting each vertebrae. It can occur anywhere in the spine but most commonly occurs in the lower back or neck. Symptoms can range from back and neck pain to numbness, tingling and weakness in the arms and legs. Until now, treatment for this condition included self-help remedies such as the application of heat or cold and exercise; medications for pain; physical therapy; steroid injections; and surgery.

Anthony Cuneo, M.D., Ph.D., who specializes Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with The Orthopedic Group, offers the new Vertiflex™ Procedure for people who suffer from lower lumbar spinal stenosis. The Vertiflex Procedure is a clinically proven, minimally invasive treatment that delivers long-term relief from leg and back pain associated with lower lumbar spinal stenosis. For this procedure, Dr. Cuneo places a small spacer inside the spine without the removal of any nearby bone or tissue. Once inserted, the spacer's arms open around the spinous processes, which are the bumps people can feel around their spine, to help open the narrowed spinal canal and increase space for the affected nerves. The spacer helps to keep pressure off of the nerves that cause back and leg pain.

The procedure, which Dr. Cuneo performs at Monongahela Valley Hospital, is a same-day procedure that does not require an overnight hospital stay.

"We are extremely excited to offer Vertiflex, which is a state-of-the-art minimally-invasive treatment to help people for symptoms from spinal stenosis," said Dr. Cuneo. "Often, patients are able to cope with their low back and leg pain with non-surgical treatments. However, there are times where this is not enough. Vertiflex offers an exciting new treatment that has less recovery time, less risk of complications and similar results when compared to more invasive, traditional spine surgery."

The Orthopedic Group has offices in Charleroi, Rostraver Township, California, Mt. Lebanon and Uniontown. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 724-379-5802.