[Characteristics of nerve root compression caused by degenerative lumbar stenosis with scoliosis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the factors that may contribute to radiculopathy in degenerative lumbar stenosis with scoliosis (DLSS) and their association with the pattern of the scoliosis.


METHODS
Twenty-seven patients with DLSS were examined in our hospital. The symptomatic nerve roots were determined by pain distribution, and neurological findings. The compressive factors were diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging and myelography or radiculography. The pattern of scoliosis was determined by plain radiographs. Correlation between the affected nerve root and the compressive factors or the pattern of the scoliosis were then analyzed.


RESULTS
Among the 27 patients, L3 root was affected in 6 patients, L4 root in 13 patients, L5 root in 15 patients, and S1 root in 9 patients. L3 and L4 roots were more compressed by foraminal or extraforaminal stenosis on the concave side of the curve, whereas L5 and S1 roots were commonly affected by lateral recess stenosis on the convex side.


CONCLUSIONS
In DLSS, nerve root compression is not only seen on the concave side of the scoliosis, but also equally involved on the convex side. Most radiculopathy in DLSS distributes close to central sacral vertical line, which may be due to the abnormal weight-bearing for the pattern of scoliosis.
Wang
Yan
Y
Department of Orthopaedics, PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China. yanwang301@yahoo.com
Zhang
Xue-song
XS
Zhang
Yong-gang
YG
Liu
Zheng-sheng
ZS
Xiao
Song-hua
SH
Liu
Bao-wei
BW
D000368:Aged; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery