Treatment for Spinal Canal Stenosis Associated with Achondroplasia.

We experienced 4 cases of spinal canal stenosis associated with achondroplasia. All were treated operatively. A 48-year-old woman who complained of quadriparesis had C1 laminectomy and C2-7 enlargement. After the opration, the patient's upper limb symptoms improved, but there was no change in her lower limb complaints. Therefore a Th10-12 laminectomy was carried out, but her symptoms still remained unchanged. Three other cases complained of lower leg numbness and intermittent claudication due to lumber canal stenosis. Two patients had L3-5 laminectomy and demonstrated some improvement. The other case had an L5 laminectomy and fenestration (L1/2, L2/3, L3/4) and improved immediately after operation.Since stenotic changes in achondroplasia were recognized in multilevels of hte spinal canal, the decision as to the decompressive site is critical.