The natural course of lumbar spinal stenosis

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Johnsson-K-E. Rosen-I. Uden-A. Department of Orthopaedics, Malmo General Hospital, Lund University, Clin-Orthop. 1992 Jun. (279). P 82-6. The course of 32 untreated patients with spinal stenosis was studied. The mean patient age was 60 years, and the mean period of observation was 49 months. About 75% of the patients had spinal claudication. In the follow-up survey, the same number of patients had claudication, but the symptoms were milder. In estimation by visual analog scale, symptoms in 70% of the cases were unchanged, 15% showed improvement, and 15% worsened. No proof of severe deterioration was found after four years, and expectant observation may be an alternative to surgical treatment.