title: Effectiveness of single posterior decompressive laminectomy in symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis: a retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The best method for surgical intervention in symptomatic lumbar stenosis is not clear. The present study aims to assess first year outcomes and complication rates of patients treated with single posterior decompressive laminectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients requiring surgery for severe, symptomatic, lumbar spinal stenosis were evaluated retrospectively. Oswestry disability index scores as well as the complications attributable to surgery were recorded before, at the sixth month and at the twelfth month of the surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty patients were enrolled to the study. The mean age of the population was 63,14 ± 11,57. Neurogenic claudication was the most common finding (65%). Of the patients, 67.5% had severe spinal stenosis. The mean ODI score at the baseline was relatively high than in the literature and was measured as 74.30 ± 5.38. At the end of the 6 months follow-up period, all patients' ODI scores significantly improved. Moreover, this improvement continued till the end of the 12 month. The mean change in ODI at the end of the first year was 41.80% ± 12.73.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In selected cases of symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis, single posterior decompression using laminectomy is safe and effective.
authors: Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey. kaymazm@yahoo.com
authors: Memduh
authors: M
authors: Kaymaz
authors: Alp Ozgun
authors: AO
authors: Borcek
authors: Hakan
authors: H
authors: Emmez
authors: Emre
authors: E
authors: Durdag
authors: Aydin
authors: A
authors: Pasaoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003710:Demography; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed