Recurrence of lumbar canal stenosis a decade after decompressive laminectomy.
Lumbar canal stenosis is treated by decompressive laminectomy with a high rate of success, but patients may experience late recurrence of pain. We report on 3 patients with return of symptoms years after their original decompression. CT scanning showed reformation by bone; their symptoms were relieved by decompression. While scarring is probably a more common cause of the return of pain, this reformation of bone can be more easily treated than scar formation and its presence should be sought by CT scanning.
D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013116:Spinal Cord; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed