title: Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. Long-term results after undercutting decompression compared with decompressive laminectomy alone or with instrumented fusion.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of various surgical procedures for lumbar spinal stenosis. Operations were performed on 117 consecutive patients for lumbar spinal stenosis between 1987 and 1992. Pre- and intraoperative data were recorded in a standardized manner. Three treatment groups were distinguished: group I consisting of 39 patients submitted to undercutting decompression; group II, 51 patients, submitted to laminectomy and foraminal decompression alone; and group III, 27 patients, who underwent foraminal decompression and laminectomy with instrumented fusion. Eight years (5-10 years) after surgery a questionnaire was mailed to the patients containing the outcome scales according to Greenough and Fraser [6] and Turner et al. [22] together with questions about residual pain, necessity of treatment and satisfaction with the operative outcome. A total of 72 questionnaires (61.6%) gave enough information for analysis. After a mean follow-up of 8 years, walking capacity had increased significantly in all groups (P < 0.001). Compared to preoperative values, pain had decreased significantly in all groups (P < 0.01). In group I 36% had good-to-excellent outcomes, and 30.8% and 23.8% in groups II and III (P > 0.05). Forty percent of group I patients were unsatisfied with the result, compared to 38.4% and 33.3% in the other groups (P > 0.05). Overall, 25 of 72 patients (34.7%) had severe constant back and/or leg pain requiring daily administration of analgesics. We conclude that the long-term outcome of decompressive surgery of the lumbar spinal canal, without and with instrumented fusion, is less favourable than was previously reported.
authors.affiliation: rompe@mail.uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rompe
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eysel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zöllner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nafe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heine
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000601:surgery*; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome