Surgical Outcome of Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis in Patients over 70 years old: A Comparative Analysis according to Surgical Method / 대한척추외과학회지

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To analyze and compare the clinical results of different surgical methods for spinal stenosis, without lumbar instability, in patients over 70 years-old. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW Much controversy exists as to the best operative method for spinal stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty eight patients that had undergone surgical treatment for spinal stenosis, without lumbar spinal instability, with a mean age of 75.1 years(70 to 91 years) and follow up period was 44 months(24 to 52 months), were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups * Group A (n=23) posterior decompression alone * Group B (n=15) posterior decompression and posterolateral fusion Clinical outcome and satisfaction were assessed using Bohlman's measurements, on a 10 point pain rating scale, and the clinical outcomes were further analyzed according to the co-morbidity and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Clinically excellent and good outcomes were achieved in 86.9 and 80.0% in groups A and B, respectively. The 10-points pain scale for low back pain showed improvements in both groups. The co-morbidity did not influence the clinical outcome in either group. There were no serious postoperative complications in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior decompression alone was an effective surgical method, and was found to be equivalent to posterior decompression and posterolateral fusion in patients over 70 years-old with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and without lumbar spinal instability.