title: Evaluation of Interspinous Spacer Outcomes in Degenerative Lumbar Canal Stenosis: Clinical Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lumbar spinal stenosis is a common diagnosis in elderly individuals, and the rates of surgery have risen all over the world. The optimal approach to provide satisfactory decompression and minimize complications for lumbar spinal stenosis remains controversial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcome of interspinous spacers versus decompressive laminectomy in the management of degenerative lumbar canal stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our prospective, comparative study included 2 groups of patients who were operated on in Ain Shams University Hospitals between January 2010 and December 2014. In the first group, 28 patients underwent decompression and additional implantation of an interspinous spacer (ISP). In the second group, 25 patients underwent decompressive laminectomy (DL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our statistical results revealed no significant difference in outcome between the 2 groups regarding visual analog scale score for leg pain and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index. However, the improvement (visual analog scale score) for back pain was better in the DL group. Complication and reoperation rates were higher in the ISP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although decompression and additional implantation of an ISP are safe procedures, they do not show better improvement in clinical outcome as compared with decompressive laminectomy.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: wghany@gmail.com.
authors: Walid
authors: W
authors: Abdel Ghany
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Aboubakr
authors: A
authors: Amer
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Khaled
authors: K
authors: Saeed
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Essam
authors: E
authors: Emara
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Ahmad
authors: A
authors: Hamad
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Mohamed
authors: M
authors: Nosseir
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Osama
authors: O
authors: Dawood
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Mohamed A
authors: MA
authors: Nada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Claudication; Interspinous spacer; Laminectomy; Lumbar canal stenosis; Radiculopathy