Ortho Oracle - orthopaedic operative atlas
Home » Bones » Spine » Lumbar Stenosis

Lumbar Stenosis


- Discussion:
    - spinal stensosis is a narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal and/or neural foramina;
    - results in compression of the cauda equina and lumbar nerve roots, producing neural root ischemia and neurogenic claudication;
    - compression of neural structures also compresses vascular supply of nerves so that symptoms are predominately those of neural ischemia;
    - because both neural canal and the neural foramen are narrowed w/ spine in extension & opened in flexion, neural compression is most often temporary;
    - pain induces patients to change position and relieve nerve pressure before permanent neurologic damage is done;
    - although degenerative spondylolisthesis is common cause of stenosis, 10% of adults > 65 yrs may have this finding & many are asymptomatic; 

    - pathoanatomy:
           - central stenosis: 

                   - refers to narrowing and compression within the lumbar spinal canal.

           - lateral recess stenosis

                   - refers to narrowing and compression within the subarticlar region which is lateral to the dura and medial to the pedicle;
           - foramenal stenosis:
                   - refers to narrowing and compression at the entrance and within the neural foramen formed by the cephalad and caudal pedicles, 
                              facet joints dorsally and vertebral body and discs ventrally.

    - contributing causes:
           - achondroplasia

           - degenerative disc disease and facet joint arthropathy
           - degenerative spondylolisthesis
           - fractures
           - levels adjacent to surgical fusion
           - epidural lipomatosis
           - ligamentum flavum hypertrophy
           - synovial cysts
           - iatrogenic

    - references:        
           - The natural course of lumbar spinal stenosis


- Clinical Findings: 
    - patients with LSS experience neurogenic claudication characterized by pain, numbness and weakness in the lower extremities while at 
              rest and standing;

    - patients are usually 50 years or older; 
    - radicular symptoms may be unilateral or bilateral with or without back pain
    - pain occurs when the patient is upright and particularly when walking; 
    - standing and walking up inclines increase pain;
    - sitting and lying on side with the hips and knees flexed relieve pain as does leaning over a shopping cart.

    - extension of the lumbar spine is not well tolerated and aggravates radicular pain, where as flexion of the lumbar spine is well tolerated and 
              relieves pain

    - in contrast to patients with claudication caused by vascular disease patients with LSS can ride an exercise bicycle w/o experiencing leg pain.
    - typical symptom is leg pain, numbness, and weakness developing after patient walks a predictable distance;
    - patient seeks relief by sitting, leaning forward to "relieve pressure" putting his foot on a raised rest, or lying down;
    - common denominator is changing the position of the spine from extension to flexion;
    - dx of spinal stenosis is made by eliciting h/o of pseudoclaudocation, positive spinal Phalen test, and imaging confirming stenosis; 
    - patients may present with bizarre neurologic complaints

    - sensory, motor and reflex changes may be minimal to none
    - bowel and bladder sphincter dysfunction may be seen
    - EMG is helpful in evaluation the nerve roots affected and in ruling out other causes of neuropathy;

    - Phalen test may be specific;
             - this test attempts to reproduce symptoms of leg pain, weakness, or numbness by causing neural ischemia;
             - w/ pt upright, bend the patient into extension for a full minute;
             - this should accentuate the spinal stenosis;
             - positive test will produce a crescendo of leg symptoms followed by rapid relief of these symptoms when the patient flexes forward,
                     places his hands on examination table, and places one foot on stool; 


- Radiographs: 
    -
AP and lateral radiographs including flexion and extension laterals are helpful. 
    - disk space narrowing is a poor predictor of symptoms;
    - instability:
           - normal anterior and posterior translation from L1 to L5 is about 8% of length of vertebral body or about 4 mm;
           - note that the typical degenerative changes of osteophyte formation, decrease in disc height, and ligament calcification will serve to limit motion;
    - Myelogram:
           - myelogram with the patient in extension may offer the best information on location of stenotic areas;
    - CT scan: 
           - coronal and sagittal CT reconstructions are quite helpful
           - evaluate for lateral stenosis & central stenosis;
           - cross-sectional dural areas of < 100 mm2 denote stenosis;
           - clinical syndrome of lumbar stenosis correlates more closely w/ anteroposterior diameter of the dural sac;
           - dural sac w/ AP diameter of < ten millimeters  is consistent w/ clinical syndrome of lumbar stenosis;
    - MRI
           - MRI delineates very accurately the compressive elements of LSS
    - references: 
           - Role of computed tomography and myelography in the diagnosis of central spinal stenosis.  
           - Radiologic diagnosis of degenerative lumbar spinal instability.            



- Non Operative Treatment: 
    - 
high percentage of patients will have little change in their symptoms without treatment;
    - physical therapy and aquatic exercises which avoid extension may be helpful.
    - image guided intralaminal epidural and transforaminal nerve root steroid injections may provide relief for variable periods of time. 

- Operative Treatment: 
    - decompression by laminectomy and partial facetectomy is effective. 
    - indications for fusion: 
            - fusion with instrumentation in addition to decompression may be necessary in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis, 
                     degenerative scoliosis, post laminectomy, and those with adjacent segment stenosis following a fusion;
            - w/ no segmental instability, arthrodesis may not be required, (assumming that posterior elements have not been destabilized);
            - degenerative spondylolisthesis;
    - positioning:
            - be particularly certain that there is no pressure on abdomen which would compress the vertebral venous plexus;
    - decompression:
            - laminae are minimally trimmed for exposure;
            - includes widening of lateral recess;
            - removal of medial rim of facets;
    - postero-lateral fusion:
            - see: fusion of the spine 


   - references: 

- Treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy by enlargement of the spinal canal anteriorly, followed by arthrodesis
- Bone regrowth after surgical decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis
- Lumbar foraminal stenosis: critical heights of the intervertebral discs and foramina. A cryomicrotome study in cadavera
- Increase of motion between lumbar vertebrae after excision of the capsule and cartilage of the facets. A cadaver study
- Laminectomy with and without spinal fusion
- Postdecompression lumbar instability
- Morbidity and mortality in association with operations on the lumbar spine. The influence of age, diagnosis, and procedure
- Neurologic complications and lumbar laminectomy. A standardized approach to the multiply-operated lumbar spine
- Repeat decompression of lumbar nerve roots. A prospective two-year evaluation
- Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. Decompression with and without arthrodesis
- The outcome of decompressive laminectomy for degenerative lumbar stenosis
A Comprehensive Study of Patients with Surgically Treated Lumbar Spinal Stenosis with Neurogenic Claudication. 
- Perioperative Complications of Posterior Lumbar Decompression and Arthrodesis in Older Adults.

 
 
 
 
 
 

1997 Volvo Award winner in clinical studies. Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis: a prospective, randomized study comparing decompressive laminectomy and arthrodesis with and without spinal instrumentation.

 
 
 

Review Papers: