title: Efficacy of unilateral laminectomy for bilateral decompression in lumbar spinal stenosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have conducted a prospective study to evaluate the results and effectiveness of bilateral decompression via a unilateral laminectomy in 50 patients with 98 levels of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis without instability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale, Oswestry Disability Index, Short Form-36, and subjective Satisfaction Measurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adequate decompression was achieved in all patients. The mean follow-up time was 22.8 months (range 19 - 47 months). Surgical decompression resulted in a dramatic reduction of overall pain in all patients (late postoperative VAS score was 2.16 +/- 0.81). The ODI scores decreased significantly in early and late follow-up evaluations and the SF-36 scores demonstrated significant improvement in late follow-up results in our series. Patient satisfaction rate was 94%, and its improvement rate was 96%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis with or without mild degenerative spondylolisthesis, the unilateral approach allowed sufficient and safe decompression of the neural structures and adequate preservation of vertebral stability, resulted in a highly significant reduction of symptoms and disability, and improved health-related quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Sişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Neurosurgery Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey. anhcavusoglu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Halit
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cavuşoğlu
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Türkmenoğlu
authors.forename: Ramazan Alper
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tuncer
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Colak
authors.forename: Yüksel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Yunus
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aydin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome