Dr. Anne Kokayeff is the First Female Doctor in Minnesota to Perform a Vertiflex® Implant

Twin Cities Pain Clinic is very proud to announce that our own Dr. Anne Kokayeff recently became the first woman doctor in the state of Minnesota to perform a Vertiflex® implant procedure! The surgery was performed on Friday, November 6 at Twin Cities Surgery Center in Edina, MN. It was a complex two level implant case, yet Dr. K executed it flawlessly and in well under the average time it generally takes for this type of procedure.

Here is some quick background on Vertiflex®. The Vertiflex® procedure is a safe, minimally invasive, and FDA-approved outpatient treatment specifically designed to provide relief from pain caused by lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). LSS is a condition that occurs when an area of the lower (lumbar) spine narrows and pinches the nerves running through it. LSS affects over 14 million Americans and is most common in people over 60. If left untreated, the condition can worsen over time, significantly reducing mobility and quality of life.

Vertiflex® provides a simple but effective solution to relieve LSS pain. A small, titanium alloy spacer is implanted into the area of the spine where the nerves are being pinched. Small arms on the spacer then fold open around the spinous processes, locking the spacer in place. The spacer prevents the spinous processes from compressing together, which stops the nerves from getting pinched.

In the case of Dr. K’s recent procedure, it was a two level case, meaning she implanted two Vertiflex® spacers during a single operation. The final result is a true testament to Dr. Kokayeff’s immense skill.

Congratulations once more, Dr. Kokayeff, on being the first female doctor in the entire state of Minnesota to complete the Vertiflex® implant procedure. We could not be prouder to have you on our team!

Learn more about Vertiflex® and see it in action: https://twincitiespainclinic.com/services/vertiflex/