Surgical Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

From July 1981 to December 1984, 120 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were treated surgically. Patients with failed back surgery syndrome were excluded. Seventy-two patients have been followed more than one year, and have been included in this study. Clinically, every patient had low back pain, Sciatica and neurogenic claudication. These symptoms were presented in the absence of any signs in some of the patients. Lumbar spinal stenosis was diagnosed clinically and confirmed by myelogram or CT scan. Laminectomy with or without fusion was generally successful in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis if indication is appropriate and surgery is adequate. (87.5 percent of the patients were satisfied with the operation.) Sciatica and neurogenic claudication responded favorably to the surgery. Back pain and leg numbness were common persistent symptoms.