Spinal canal size and clinical symptoms among persons diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis.
OBJECTIVE
Clinical symptoms associated with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) are believed to be due to neurogenic claudication caused by narrowing of the central and lateral spinal canals. However, there is a paucity of published data on these relationships. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between clinical symptoms associated with LSS and osseous anterior-posterior (AP) spinal canal diameter as measured on axial magnetic resonance imaging.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study conducted at a University Spine Program. Fifty persons with a clinical diagnosis of LSS were administered measures of clinical pain and perceived function. Walking distance in the laboratory and community was also assessed. Participants also underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the spine.


RESULTS
Using recommended upper limits from the literature, patients with smaller canals reported greater perceived disability, but no other group differences emerged. In the entire sample, AP spinal canal diameter was not significantly associated with any of the clinical symptom measures examined. Body mass index was found to be significantly related to walking distance, but not perceived function or pain.


CONCLUSIONS
AP spinal canal diameter is not predictive of clinical symptoms associated with LSS. The findings also suggest that body mass may play a significant role in functional limitations observed in this population.
Geisser
Michael E
ME
The Spine Program, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan Health System, 325 E. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA. mgeisser@med.umich.edu
Haig
Andrew J
AJ
Tong
Henry C
HC
Yamakawa
Karen S J
KS
Quint
Douglas J
DJ
Hoff
Julian T
JT
Miner
Jennifer A
JA
Phalke
Vaishali V
VV
D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000473:pathology*; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology