[Surgical treatment of cervical spinal canal stenosis in elderly patients]. / Degenerative HWS drückt auf das Rückenmark. Wie lange dürfen Sie mit der OP zögern?

The diagnosis is established through neurological examinations, laboratory and imaging diagnostics. Conservative treatment such as a neck brace, drug and physical therapies could bring relief. Manifest or progressing deficiency symptoms associated with sensory or motoric deficit, bladder, rectal or erectile disorder are indications for early surgery.

[Surgical treatment of lumbar spinal canal stenosis in elderly patients]. / Rückenschmerzen, Sensibilitätsstörungen, Schmerzen beim Gehen. Denken Sie an die Claudicatio spinalis?

Lumbar spinal stenosis is one of the most frequent causes of spinal surgical interventions in over 60-year olds. The exact relationship between degenerative changes and the resulting symptoms is unclear since imaging shows stenotic changes in the spines of many symptom-free patients. The concurrence of imaging findings, the symptoms described and manifestations is crucial for the indication of surgical decompression. Nevertheless, spinal claudication that is refractory to conservative therapy is the most frequent indication for surgery. The success rate two years after OP is approximately 80% in over 75-year olds. Five years after surgical intervention, an improvement in the symptoms is still recognizable in 50% of these patients.