Treatment of Degenerative Lumbar Stenosis with Minimal Decompression / 대한척추외과학회지

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study OBJECTIVES: In the operative treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis, the wide decompression and fusion method has many problems, such as a long operation time, large blood loss and the long time required to achieve solid fusion. As a solution to these problems, a minimal decompression method was been performed, which minimizes the resection of laminae and facet joints. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW In the operative therapy for lumbar spinal stenosis, favorable results can be obtained by simple decompression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 42 cases of degenerative lumbar stenosis, with neither segmental instability nor spondylolisthesis, underwent a minimal decompressive surgery, without instrumentation. The mean operation time and amount of blood loss were analyzed, and the clinical results evaluated according to Kim's criteria and the postoperative segmental instability by the Dupuis method. The average follow-up period was 70 months. RESULTS: Transfusions were not required in all cases. The mean operative times were 1hour 5minutes and 1hour 46minutes in the one and two segment decompressions, respectively. The clinical results, according to Kim's criteria, were excellent in 24 cases and good in 12. There was no dynamic instability in the radiographs at the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: With the degenerative lumbar stenosis, without segmental instability or spondylolisthesis, minimal decompression was an effective surgical method.