title: [Treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis in the elder by micro-endoscopic discectomy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the clinical effects of micro-endoscopic discectomy(MED) in treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis in the elder.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data of 376 cases of the lumbar spinal stenosis were treated by MED from December 2003 to December 2009, 47 cases of them aged above 60 years old. Of them, 43 old patients were followed up for 3 months to 6 years. There were 27 males and 16 females,with an average age of 68.3 years old ranging from 60 to 91 years. The average age was 68.3 years. The course was from 3 months to 15 years (averaged 3.5 years). The clinical effects of postoperation were observed and evaluated according to Nakai standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-three patients were followed up for 3 months to 6 years. The incision of all the patients had no infection and achieved primary healing. The clinical effect of the patients were evaluated by Nakai standard. The results were excellent in 26 cases,good in 12,fair in 5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MED has characteristics of less injury,fast recovery and thorough decompression to nerve roots. It is a kind of good method for treating lumbar spinal stenosis in the elder if the indication were grasped strictly.
authors.affiliation: Spinal Surgery Department of the 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of TCM, Guangzhou 510240, Guangdong, China. zhwc50@sohu.com
authors.forename: Wen-cai
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi-zhong
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Xiao-guang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hong-jiang
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*