[Micro-decompression procedure for lumbar spinal stenosis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate clinical result of the micro-decompression procedure for lumbar spinal stenosis.


METHODS
From September 2001 to May 2006,87 patients (male 60, female 27) with lumbar spinal stenosis underwent micro-decompression. The age of patients were from 43 to 80 years with an average of 51 years. Among them,2 cases with spinal stenosis occured in L(3,4), 47 in L(4,5), 38 in L5S1.


RESULTS
All patients were followed up for 18-48 months with an average of 26 months. The results were excellent in 52 cases, good in 28, poor in 7, according to Macnab of back leg pain standard. The rate of excellent and good was 92%.


CONCLUSIONS
Operative treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis is focused at the areas causing symptomatic neural root compression rather than prophylactic decompression at areas of nonsymptomatic disease. The micro-decompression procedures are more likely to be well tolerated by older patients.
Zhang
Gong-lin
GL
Institute of Orthopaedics, the General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Area, Lanzhou 730050, Gansu, China.
Ge
Bao-feng
BF
Gong
Tie-jun
TJ
Wang
Yong-heng
YH
Chen
Ke-ming
KM
Qian
Jun
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome