Operative outcomes of decompression in degenerative lumbar canal stenosis

Abstract

Background: Spinal canal stenosis is a condition in which the spinal cord and the nerve roots are compressed by a number of pathologic factors, leading to symptoms such as pain, numbness, and weakness. This study was undertaken to evaluate clinical, functional and radiological outcomes of surgical decompression in spinal canal stenosis. Material and Method: We have included 26 adult patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis in this prospective study who have not improved after conservative management for minimum of 6 weeks. All the patients underwent standard open decompression using a posterior midline approach. Patients were followed up at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year, they were assessed clinically and functionally using the VAS score and ODI score. Results: In this study total of 26 patients, out of which, 14(54%) were females and 12(46%) were males, with an average age of 58.08 years. VAS of back pain improved from 2.85 on admission to 1.08 on final follow-up and leg pain form 8.00 on admission to 1.73 on final follow-up and ODI from 63.69 on admission to 14.54 on final follow-up. Conclusion: Decompression surgery is the gold standard treatment for central or lateral recess lumbar stenosis when conservative treatment fails as it provides significant clinical as well as functional improvement in terms of VAS score and Oswestry Disability Index.