Functional outcome of surgical treatment for multilevel lumbar spinal stenosis
Open Access
- 1 January 2006
- journal article
- clinical trial
- Published by Medical Journals Sweden AB in Acta Orthopaedica
- Vol. 77 (4), 670-676
- https://doi.org/10.1080/17453670610012773
Abstract
Background There is no consensus regarding the best treatment of patients with multilevel lumbar stenosis. We evaluated the clinical and radiological findings in 41 patients with complex degenerative spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine who were treated surgically. Methods Between 1997 and 2003, 41 patients suffering from degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis were included in a prospective clinical study. The spinal stenosis was multilevel in all patients and in 13 of them there was degenerative scoliosis, in 18 there was degenerative spondylolisthesis, and in 10 there was segmental instability. Plain radiographs, MRI and/or CT myelograms were obtained preoperatively. The patients were assessed clinically with the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS). Surgery included wide posterior decompression and fusion using a trans-pedicular instrumentation system and bone graft. Results After a mean follow-up of 3.7 (1–6) years, the patients' clinical improvement on the ODI and VAS was statistically significant. Recurrent stenosis was not observed, and 39 of 41 patients were satisfied with the outcome. 3 patients with improvement initially had later surgery because of instability. Interpretation The above-mentioned technique gives good and long lasting clinical results, when selection of patients is done carefully and when the spinal levels that are to be decompressed are selected accurately.Keywords
This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit:
- Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis With Spinal StenosisSpine, 2004
- Visual Analog Scales for Interpretation of Back and Leg Pain Intensity in Patients Operated for Degenerative Lumbar Spine DisordersSpine, 2001
- Surgical Treatment of Patients With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis With Associated ScoliosisPublished by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) ,2001
- 1997 Volvo Award Winner in Clinical StudiesSpine, 1997
- Lumbar Laminectomy Alone or With Instrumented or Noninstrumented Arthrodesis in Degenerative Lumbar Spinal StenosisSpine, 1997
- The Maine Lumbar Spine Study, Part IIISpine, 1996
- Long-term Results of Partial Undercutting Facetectomy for Lumbar Lateral Recess StenosisSpine, 1996
- Spinal Stenosis with ScoliosisSpine, 1992
- Decompression of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and Stabilization with Knodt Rods in the Elderly PatientNeurosurgery, 1990
- Fatigue Life Improvement of Nitrogen-Ion–Implanted Pedicle ScrewsSpine, 1990