Pathology and Surgical Treatment of Degenerative Lumbar Canal Stenosis

• Published in: Orthopedics & Traumatology Vol. 36; no. 4; pp. 1273 - 1277
• Main Authors: Naruo, Masakuni, Koyanagi, Eiichi, Urakado, Misao, Shiiba, Muroo, Takada, Shinjiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: West-Japanese Society of Orthopedics & Traumatology 1988
• ISSN: 0037-1033; 1349-4333
• DOI: 10.5035/nishiseisai.36.1273

768 cases of lumbar canal stenosis were surgically treated for the past 10 years. 321 cases of these operated cases were degenerative lumbar canal stenosis. About 116 cases passed over 5 years after operation and answered enqete (containing 72 consulted cases). Clinical symptoms and signs, operative findings, postoperative evaluation and roentgenologic changes were mainly investigated. The results were as follows: 1) Clinical symptoms and signs: Unilateral leg pain (72%), cauda equina claudication (49%), limited motion in extension (71%), leg pain in extension (71%), muscle weakness (49%) and hypoactive or absent ATR (49%) were found in high frequency. 2) Postoperative results: “Excellent” and “Good” cases accounted for 72%. In cases of duration of symptom over 3 years, operated at 60 years of age, at postoperative results tended to be poor 8 years after operation. 3) Roentgenologic study was performed on 25 cases of wide laminectomy without fusion. In these cases, anterior displacement was found in 20% of L4+5 level laminectomy, and 66.7% of L3+4+5 level laminectomy, but correlation between displacement and postoperative results was not encountered.