Surgical Outcomes of the Elderly with Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis

Objective: To investigate the outcomes of the elderly with degenerative lumbar spinal canal stenosis treated with decompressional operation.Methods: From January 2004 to October 2007,a retrospective review of 37 cases with degenerative lumbar canal stenosis treated surgically was performed.Of all patients,16 cases were treated with simple surgical decompression,21 cases were treated with posterior decompression combined with internal fixation and fusion.Results: No death cases occurred during perioperation.Sixteen cases had complications which were improved with non-surgical treatment.Oswestry scores improved from 61.02±6.49 to 26.91±7.91 after operation,and 83.8% of the patients were satisfied with the results of the surgery.There was no significant difference between the group treated with decompressive laminectomy and the group treated with internal fixation and fusion.Conclusion: With the proper operation modus and after controlling concomitant diseases,the surgical treatment could guarantee the satisfactory therapeutic effect in the elderly.