Studying the results of CT myelography application in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis

Abstract

To detect and identify the levels of spinal compression, computed tomographic (CT) myelography has been used for many years, but with the widespread introduction of magnetic resonance imaging into clinical practice, the frequency of CT use has significantly decreased. There is a need for a clinical trial that determines the effectiveness of CT myelography in clinical practice. Objective: to determine the reliability of CT myelography by examining the clinical results of surgical decompression in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Materials and methods. Nineteen patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were included in the study, and the areas of surgical decompression of the spine were determined by CT myelography. Visual analogue scale and Oswestry disability index were assessed preoperatively, 3 days and one year after the treatment. Results. The average preoperative rate of pain syndrome in patients was 70.5 points, on the third day after surgery, visual analogue scale was 46.6, and a year later — 26.8 points. The study of Oswestry disability index showed the following: before surgery — 51.9, on the third day after intervention — 36.3, and in a year — 38.9 points. Conclusions. The study demonstrated that the use of CT myelography in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis in order to determine the levels of surgical decompression leads to satisfactory results of the treatment.