Laminectomy for lumbar canal stenosis: a safe and effective treatment.
Lumbar canal stenosis (LCS) is a common condition affecting elderly patients for which a significant number undergo surgery. The validity and safety of simple laminectomy in this condition is not fully understood. Furthermore, the presence of pre-existing spondylolisthesis is controversial with respect to the need for additional spinal stabilization. We prospectively studied a consecutive cohort of 100 patients with clinical and radiological LCS under the care of a single spinal surgeon. Outcome measures (SF-36, visual analogue scores for back and leg symptoms, and the Roland/Morris back pain scores) were assessed preoperatively, 3 months postsurgery and at long-term (median 2 years) follow-up. We have shown a significant improvement in outcome sustained in the long-term with minimal morbidity. Patients with pre-existing spondylolisthesis accounted for 23% of the cohort and, having received identical treatment, showed no significant difference in outcome compared with patients with normal alignment.
Wilby
M J
MJ
Academic Department of Neurosurgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
Seeley
H
H
Laing
R J
RJ
D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000601:surgery*