Clinical profile of degenerative lumbar spinal canal stenosis and its outcome after surgical management

Abstract

Introduction: Degenerative spinal stenosis is a progressive disorder that involves the entire spinal motion segment as described by Kirkaldy-Willis. With this a study was conducted to assess the degenerative lumbar spinal canal stenosis which is managed by laminectomy, decompression and to assess the results of decompression. Materials and Methods: Study was conducted in the department of orthopedics, GSL Medical College. Patients having low back pain and radiating pain to lower limbs. After preparation of surgical area thorough scrubbing, painting and draping was done. To improve hemostasis through local anesthesia 0.5% xylocaine with epinephrine was injected in operative area. Skin was incised thorough midline incision. Electrocautery was used to dissect down to the level of spinous process. Self retaining retractor was then placed within the wound. Once the levels were identified ankobbsis was used to retract the para-spinous muscular attachments to the bone. P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Total 50 patients were included in this study. When post operative walking distance was considered, 10% patients were able to walk < 50 feet, 56% walked 50 feet to 2 block and 34% could walk 2 blocks to 2 miles. Excellent SSSS end results were observed in 78% participants, 16% reported good results and poor results in 8% cases. Conclusion: Surgical decompression of laminectomy gives good outcome in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and there was excellent improvement of patients after surgery.