title: The natural course of lumbar spinal stenosis.
abstract: The course of 32 untreated patients with spinal stenosis was studied. The mean patient age was 60 years, and the mean period of observation was 49 months. About 75% of the patients had spinal claudication. In the follow-up survey, the same number of patients had claudication, but the symptoms were milder. In estimation by visual analog scale, symptoms in 70% of the cases were unchanged, 15% showed improvement, and 15% worsened. No proof of severe deterioration was found after four years, and expectant observation may be an alternative to surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Malmö General Hospital, Lund University, Sweden.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Johnsson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rosén
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Udén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009192:Myelography; D009431:Neural Conduction; D010147:Pain Measurement; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy