Computed tomography findings 4 years after surgical management of lumbar spinal stenosis. No correlation with clinical outcome

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, cross-sectional study of the correlation between postoperative computed tomography findings and patients' clinical outcomes approximately 4 years after laminectomy for lumbar spinal stenosis. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate clinical and radiologic characteristics and their relation to each other. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The goal of surgical management for lumbar spinal stenosis is to decompress the stenotic area determined in radiologic examinations to relieve pressure on the neurovascular structures. However, the success of this decompression very rarely has been confirmed by postoperative radiologic imaging or compared with clinical outcome. METHODS: Postoperative computed tomography was performed on 191 patients. The findings were classified as "no stenosis," "central stenosis," "lateral stenosis," or "central-lateral stenosis." Postoperative instability of the lumbar spine was investigated by functional radiography. Clinical status was assessed by clinical examination. Subjective disability was assessing using the Oswestry questionnaire, and severity of pain using the visual analog scale. Walking capacity was evaluated by the tread-mill test. RESULTS: Radiologic studies revealed postoperative stenosis in 123 patients (64%). Small differences between the computed tomography groups were shown for the Oswestry score, but not for walking distance. Clinical signs, severity of pain, and radiologic instability were very similar for all computed tomography groups. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative radiologic stenosis was very common in patients operated on for lumbar spinal stenosis, but this did not correlate with clinical outcome. The clinician must be cautious when reconciling clinical symptoms and signs with postoperative computed tomography findings in patients operated on for lumbar spinal stenosis.     

Long-term clinical and magnetic resonance imaging follow-up assessment of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis after laminectomy.

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional retrospective study to observe the correlation between postoperation findings shown on magnetic resonance imaging and clinical observations of 56 patients 10 years after laminectomy for lumbar spinal stenosis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relation between postoperation findings on magnetic resonance imaging and surgical outcome in patients surgically treated for lumbar spinal stenosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Surgical management of lumbar spinal stenosis is based on the compression seen in radiologic imaging of neurovascular structures in the vertebral canal, but the success of surgical decompression and its correlation with clinical observations very seldom have been monitored by postoperation radiologic imaging. METHODS: In this study, 56 patients surgically treated for lumbar spinal stenosis were re-examined clinically by use of the Oswestry disability questionnaire. Their walking capacity was evaluated by the treadmill test. Severity of pain before and after the treadmill test was investigated using a visual analog scale. Patients' perception of improvement measured as the change in their condition during the preceding 5 years was elicited by a questionnaire. On the basis of the stenotic findings on magnetic resonance imaging, the patients were classified into no stenosis (NoSten, n = 15) and stenosis (Sten, n = 41) groups, and a summative degenerative scale also was constructed with the findings categorized as follows: disc degeneration, disc herniation, facet joint arthrosis, and degenerative spondylolisthesis. RESULTS: Whereas the patients' perception of improvement correlated very strongly with the Oswestry score and walking capacity, there was no statistical difference between the NoSten and Sten groups in the Oswestry score, walking capacity, perception of improvement, or severity of pain. The effect of the summative degenerative scale on the patients' walking capacity was 13 times greater than the effect of the minimum area of the dural sac. CONCLUSIONS: Patients' perception of improvement had a much stronger correlation with long-term surgical outcome than structural findings seen on postoperation magnetic resonance imaging. Moreover, degenerative findings had a greater effect on patients' walking capacity than stenotic findings.     

单纯减压与减压后融合治疗单纯退变性腰椎管狭窄症疗效对比研究

【摘要】 目的 比较单纯椎管减压术和减压后器械内固定融合治疗无腰椎滑脱和失稳的退变性腰椎管狭窄症的临床疗效。方法 自2006年3月~2011年5月期间,在我院接受手术治疗的单纯退变性腰椎管狭窄症患者共63例,其中接受单纯选择性椎管减压术治疗的患者28例,接受椎管减压加器械内固定融合手术患者35例。手术前后分别使用腰椎JOA (Japanese Orthopedic Association) 评分、ODI(Oswestry Disability Index)评分和SF?鄄36(Short Form?鄄36)评分,评估两种术式的临床疗效。结果 两组患者术后1年均取得较好疗效。其中椎管减压加融合组患者术后ODI评分改善31.2分(P<0.001),由重度功能障碍改善至轻度功能障碍;单纯选择性椎管减压组术后ODI评分改善14.9分(P=0.004),由重度功能障碍改善至中度功能障碍;减压加融合组预后较单纯减压组显著改善(P<0.01),术后SF?鄄36评分得到相似结果。结论 手术治疗能极大地改善腰椎管狭窄患者的临床症状,椎管减压加融合术较单纯椎管减压术能更大程度改善该类患者的临床症状。     

临床论著多节段经椎板间隙椎管扩大术治疗腰椎管狭窄症

目的:探讨多节段经椎板间隙椎管扩大术治疗腰椎管狭窄症的疗效。方法:采用潜式扩大中央椎管和神经根管或摘除椎间盘术式治疗腰椎管狭窄症共86例。其中2节段减压57例,3节段减压19例,4节段减压10例。术后进行Oswestry疗效评分与影像学观察。结果:术后CT显示椎管直径明显增加,椎管造影显示神经根管明显扩大。术后1年随访79例,疗效优良率90.1%;术后3年随访76例,优良率86.3%。结论:多节段经椎板间隙椎管扩大术操作简单,手术并发症少,中央椎管和神经根管减压充分,对腰椎后柱张力带结构破坏小,治疗腰椎管狭窄症疗效满意。     

Functional outcome of surgical treatment for multilevel lumbar spinal stenosis

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus regarding the best treatment of patients with multilevel lumbar stenosis. We evaluated the clinical and radiological findings in 41 patients with complex degenerative spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine who were treated surgically. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2003, 41 patients suffering from degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis were included in a prospective clinical study. The spinal stenosis was multilevel in all patients and in 13 of them there was degenerative scoliosis, in 18 there was degenerative spondylolisthesis, and in 10 there was segmental instability. Plain radiographs, MRI and/or CT myelograms were obtained preoperatively. The patients were assessed clinically with the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS). Surgery included wide posterior decompression and fusion using a trans-pedicular instrumentation system and bone graft. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 3.7 (1-6) years, the patients' clinical improvement on the ODI and VAS was statistically significant. Recurrent stenosis was not observed, and 39 of 41 patients were satisfied with the outcome. 3 patients with improvement initially had later surgery because of instability. INTERPRETATION: The above-mentioned technique gives good and long lasting clinical results, when selection of patients is done carefully and when the spinal levels that are to be decompressed are selected accurately.     

两种术式治疗双节段退变性腰椎管狭窄症的疗效比较

目的：比较显微内窥镜手术与传统开放手术治疗双节段退变性腰椎管狭窄症的临床疗效。方法2006-03-2012-06对186例双节段退变性腰椎管狭窄患者分别采用显微内窥镜开窗减压手术和传统开放减压融合内固定手术治疗,其中内窥镜减压组95例,开放减压融合内固定手术组91例,对两组病例手术时间、术中出血量、切口长度、术后并发症、末次随访时Oswestry功能障碍指数（Oswestry disability index ODI）及优良率进行比较。结果内窥镜组手术时间、术中出血量及切口长度均较开放组少（P＜0.05）,术后并发症少,两组术后ODI及优良率无显著性差异（P＞0.05）。结论显微内窥镜下椎管减压术治疗双节段退变性腰椎管狭窄症较开放手术创伤小、术中出血少、并发症少,并取得与开放手术相似的临床疗效。     

Prospective functional evaluation of the surgical treatment of neurogenic claudication in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis

A prospective evaluation of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis undergoing operative treatment was performed using treadmill-bicycle functional testing as well as Oswestry and Visual Analog Pain scales for self-assessment. Thirty-two patients undergoing spinal stenosis decompression with and without a concomitant spinal fusion were prospectively evaluated, preoperatively and a minimum of 2 years postoperatively. Surgical treatment was demonstrated to produce significant improvement in walking ability, and to a lesser degree, in the ability to bicycle 2 years postoperatively. Improvement in patient function demonstrated on the Oswestry questionnaire correlated with decreased pain observed on the Visual Analog Pain scale. The treadmill-bicycle test appears to be a useful tool for the differential diagnosis of neurogenic claudication and may be used as an objective test of postoperative outcome.     

改良经椎板间入路经皮内窥镜下减压术治疗退行性腰椎椎管狭窄

目的观察改良经椎板间入路经皮内窥镜下减压术(PEID)治疗退行性腰椎椎管狭窄症(DLSS)的临床效果,为此项技术在临床推广使用提供依据。方法 2013年6月—2015年6月,共74例符合纳入标准的DLSS患者纳入研究,其中男40例,女34例;随机将患者分为传统手术组(传统组)和改良PEID组(改良组),每组各37例。记录2组患者住院天数、手术时间、术中出血量、中央椎管矢径和横径的变化,以及术前、术后3 d、术后3个月、术后6个月疼痛视觉模拟量表(VAS)评分和Oswestry功能障碍指数(ODI),以评估手术效果。结果所有手术顺利完成,所有患者随访6个月。在住院天数、术中出血量方面,改良组优于传统组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。2组患者术后3、6个月时VAS评分和ODI均较术前明显改善,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);但2组间各时间点VAS评分和ODI改善差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论改良PEID可以取得与开放减压术同样的临床效果。且改良PEID在住院天数、术中出血量等方面明显优于传统开放减压术,提示它是治疗DLSS的安全有效的手术方法。     

老年退行性腰椎管狭窄症手术治疗的疗效分析

目的探讨老年退行性腰椎管狭窄症患者手术治疗的疗效。方法1994年1月~2006年11月收治的247例65岁以上退行性腰椎管狭窄症患者中168例获得0.5~5年随访;把病例分为非固定组111例(全椎板切除减压或 横突间植骨、小开窗切除或半椎板减压)和固定组57例两组。将两组中各种术式的疗效进行回顾性分析。结果无死亡病例。发生并发症者30例。JOA评分优良率,非固定组为92.1%,固定组为94.3%。结论对于老年退行性腰椎管狭窄症的患者,没有明确证据证明腰椎不稳时,治疗以单纯减压为主,双侧小开窗或单侧小开窗 对侧半椎板减压可以满足绝大多数患者的要求,手术方法应人而异。内固定组与非固定组疗效经标准化处理无明显差异。但非固定组的治疗费用远远低于内固定组。     

Does Additional Discectomy and the Degree of Dural Sac Compression Influence the Outcome of Decompressive Surgery for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?

The discussion regarding factors that reliably predict the long-term surgical results in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis is still going on. This retrospective study analyses the relation between the dimensions of the dural sac and patients' clinical status before and after decompressive operations performed with or without additional discectomy. The type of surgery performed in 134 patients and the dural sac dimensions measured on postmyelograpic computed tomography in 100 of these patients were related to the Prolo scores before surgery and at follow-up (mean 46 months). The degree of dural sac compression correlated significantly with the patients' postoperative Prolo score and with the difference between the pre- and postoperative scores. The dural sac diameters predicted outcome after surgery more reliably than the preoperative Prolo scores. There was no statistically significant difference in the outcome when comparing patients with and without additional discectomy. The results presented suggest that the relief of symptoms after decompressive surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis correlates with the degree of the dural sac compression and that the simultaneous presence of disc herniation necessitating additional discectomy does not influence the postoperative outcome. However, these results have to be confirmed by prospective studies.     

合并糖尿病的腰椎管狭窄症患者手术治疗效果分析

背景：糖尿病常因合并腰椎管狭窄症而需手术治疗,若同时合并糖尿病性周围血管或神经病变,其手术效果往往会受到很大影响。但目前很少有学者对合并糖尿病的腰椎管狭窄症患者的临床疗效进行随访研究。 目的：探讨合并糖尿病的腰椎管狭窄症患者的手术治疗效果。 方法：回顾性分析2008年3月至2012年12月手术治疗的腰椎管狭窄症患者94例,分为合并糖尿病组（A组）及单纯腰椎管狭窄症组（B组）各47例。通过比较两组患者体重指数、住院时间、融合节段、手术时间、术中出血量、术后引流量、围手术期并发症发生率、术前及术后1年随访的VAS评分及JOA评分、术后1年融合率等临床指标评价糖尿病对腰椎管狭窄症患者手术疗效的影响。 结果：两组患者的性别、年龄、手术时间、术中出血量、围手术期并发症发生率、术前及术后1年随访的VAS评分及JOA评分、术后1年融合率均无统计学差异（P＞0.05）,两组患者的体重指数、住院时间、术后引流量有统计学差异（P＜0.05）。 结论：合并糖尿病的腰椎管狭窄症患者的住院时间明显延长,术后引流量增加,但手术疗效尚可。     

棘突截骨椎管成形术治疗单纯性腰椎管狭窄症

目的　采用棘突截骨椎管成形术治疗单纯性腰椎管狭窄症 ,并进行临床与影像学评估。方法　手术方法为单侧椎板显露棘突基底截骨 ,将棘突 -韧带 -骶棘肌整体推离对侧椎板。切除椎板上下缘和黄韧带 ,潜式扩大椎管和摘除椎间盘。 35例退行性腰椎管狭窄症患者接受该手术 ,术后进行疗效评分 (Oswestry问卷 )和腰椎管直径测量。结果　术后 1年腰腿痛平均改善78.4% ,术后 4年平均改善 76 .3 % ,术后中期疗效下降不显著 (P >0 .0 5 )。术后CT显示椎管矢径平均增加 19.7% ,横径平均增加 17.5 % ,棘突截骨后原位愈合率为 91%。结论　棘突截骨椎管成形术操作简单 ,神经减压充分 ,手术并发症少 ,腰椎稳定性破坏轻。该术式治疗单纯性腰椎管狭窄症术后近、中期疗效和影像学评估满意     

Clinical study of lumbar spinal canal stenosis on 70 operated cases --clinical symptoms, pathogenesis, operative method, postoperative results

In surgical treatment of lumbar spinal canal stenosis, the stenotic area related to the clinical symptoms was determined and the stenotic form and stenotic factors in this stenotic area were estimated before operation. The most appropriate decompression of the stenotic area was performed taking the stenotic form into consideration and retaining the spinous process and interspinous ligament. In cases of stenosis of the spinal canal, posterolateral decompression of the dural sheath was performed by means of resection of the medial edge of the bilateral inferior articular processes and the yellow ligaments. In cases of stenosis of the spinal canal associated with stenosis of the lateral recess, the root was decompressed by unroofing the lateral recess in addition to posterolateral decompression of the dural sheath. And in cases with stenosis of the lateral recess, the root in an affected area was decompressed. Neither operation on the intervertebral disc nor incision of the dural sheath was performed. After operation as described above, symptoms, operative findings and postoperative results were investigated in 70 cases which could be directly examined. In this paper we discuss the relationship between the symptoms and the stenotic area, stenotic forms and stenotic factors. When our postoperative results were compared with those of cases with extensive laminectomy, it was seen that none of the patients we treated had low back pain nor recurrence of intermittent claudication and that lessening of paralysis was sufficient.     

Results of surgery for spinal stenosis adjacent to previous lumbar fusion

The literature provides little data to guide surgical management of spinal stenosis adjacent to previous lumbar fusion. Thirty-three consecutive patients who had surgical decompression for spinal stenosis at the lumbar segments adjacent to a previous lumbar fusion were studied. The mean interval between fusion and the adjacent segment surgery was 94 months. Of the 33 patients, 26 were followed for 3-14 years (mean: 5 years) after adjacent segment surgery and were clinically evaluated and independently completed an outcome questionnaire. Of the 26 patients, 15 rated their outcome as completely satisfactory, 6 were neutral toward the surgery, and 5 considered their surgery a failure. The surgery was generally effective at improving or relieving lower extremity neurogenic claudication. The strongest independent predictive factor of patient dissatisfaction was ongoing postoperative low back pain (r = 0.7, p = 0.001). A higher back pain score at follow-up was associated with continued narcotic use (p = 0.001) and decreased ability to perform activities of daily living (p = 0.05). Six patients required further lumbar surgery during the follow-up period. This study provides the longest published follow-up data of surgical results for symptomatic spinal stenosis adjacent to a previously asymptomatic lumbar fusion.     

Clinical and radiological outcomes between biportal endoscopic decompression and microscopic decompression in lumbar spinal stenosis

Background contextNumerous minimal invasive techniques treating lumbar spinal stenosis have been introduced. Clinical results using biportal endoscopic spinal surgery has recently been introduced as a treatment option for lumbar spinal stenosis. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiologic outcome between microscopic unilateral laminotomy bilateral decompression and biportal endoscopic unilateral laminotomy bilateral decompression in patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.MethodA total of 89 patients were evaluated for this study. Only single-level patients were enrolled for accurate comparison. Patients that underwent biportal endoscopic surgery were assigned to Group A, and patients that underwent microscopic surgery were designated Group B. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using modified Macnab criteria, Oswestry Disability Index, and Visual Analog Scale. Postoperative complications were checked until final follow up. Plain radiographs before and after surgery were compared to analyze the change of alignment.ResultThere was a significant difference between Group A and B in VAS of back on postoperative 2 months. Other clinical measurements except for postoperative 2 months VAS of back showed no significant difference. There were no significant differences between Group A and Group B regarding preoperative and postoperative radiological findings.ConclusionTwo different decompression techniques preserve the spinal structure and exhibit a favorable clinical outcome and have the advantage of not causing postoperative instability in the short term follow up. Biportal endoscopic surgery may leads to less postoperative back pain than microscopic surgery, which may allow early ambulation and shorter hospitalization period.     

椎弓根螺钉及360°植骨融合术治疗多节段腰椎管狭窄症

目的探讨充分减压、椎弓根螺钉内固定及360°植骨融合术治疗多节段腰椎管狭窄症的疗效。方法采用椎弓根螺钉内固定术及360°植骨融合术治疗34例多节段腰椎管狭窄症患者。结果随访10~23个月,平均14个月。JOA计算手术改善率为75%~91%(平均87%),X线复查34例全部达到骨性融合。结论椎弓根螺钉内固定为腰椎管狭窄症的彻底减压提供可靠的技术支持,360°植骨融合术确保了术后腰椎节段的稳定,两者结合为治疗多节段腰椎管狭窄症提供一种较好的方法。     

刺突截骨椎管成形术治疗退行性腰椎管狭窄症

目的：介绍刺突截骨椎管成形术及其应用,方法：采用该术式治疗37例退行性腰椎管狭窄症患者,术后进行疗效评分（Oswestry问卷）和腰椎管直径测量。方法：术后1年腰腿痛平均改善76％,术后4年平均改善74％,疗效下降不显著（P＞0．05）。术后CT显示腰椎管直径平均增加20％,刺突原位愈合率87％。结论：该术式操作简单,神经减压充分,手术并发症少,其治疗退行性腰椎管狭窄症术手近、中期疗效和影像学评估均满意。     

Unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression of lumbar spinal stenosis part II: Clinical experiences

Summary The surgical aim in the treatment of symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis is the relief of the patient's complaints by an adequate neural decompression. Unilateral laminotomy and bilateral spinal canal decompression represents such a safe, effective and minimally invasive surgical method. This technique has been successfully used in the operative treatment of 29 patients with symptomatic mono- or multisegmental lumbar stenosis. There was no surgically induced neurological deterioration. In one patient, an inadvertent dural tear occurred, and due to unchanged symptoms another patient with a multisegmental stenosis had to be re-operated on at an additional level. Postoperatively, 25 of the 27 patients with neurogenic claudication (93%) demonstrated a marked improvement of the walking distance. The follow-up of 25 patients (mean follow-up time was 18 months) demonstrated an excellent result without pain in 7 patients (28%); a good outcome with mild residual pain, but a normal working capacity in 15 patients (60%); and a fair outcome with unchanged postoperative low-back pain but markedly improved working capacity and walking distance in 3 patients (12%). Postoperative morphometric evaluation as well as the clinical improvement of the patient's symptoms clearly demonstrated that bilateral ligamentectomy and recess decompression were adequately and successfully achieved via unilateral approach.     

多节段穹顶形开窗减压治疗腰椎管狭窄症

目的探讨多节段穹顶形开窗减压治疗腰椎管狭窄症的疗效。方法采用多节段穹顶形开窗减压术式治疗腰椎管狭窄症患者共63例,其中2节段45例,3节段14例,4节段4例。平均随访1年5个月,用改良的日本骨科学会下腰痛评分法(MJOA)进行疗效评分,并进行影像学观察。结果术前及随访MJOA评分,平均下降18.08分,优良率达92.1%,术后CT显示椎管直径明显增加(P<0.01)。结论多节段穹顶形开窗减压术治疗腰椎管狭窄症疗效满意,椎管减压充分,对腰椎后柱结构破坏小。     

A comprehensive study of patients with surgically treated lumbar spinal stenosis with neurogenic claudication

BACKGROUND: The relationship between objective measurements and subjective symptoms of patients with spinal stenosis and the degree of narrowing of the spinal canal is not clear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients undergoing surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis and intermittent neurogenic claudication with functional testing, quantitative imaging, and patient self-assessment. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication were prospectively enrolled in the study. All underwent preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and/or computed tomography myelography, and all were treated with decompressive surgery and were followed for a minimum of two years. The evaluation included treadmill and bicycle exercise tests as well as patient self-assessment with use of the Oswestry Disability Index and a visual analog pain scale preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: Preoperatively fifty-eight (94%) of the patients had a positive result (provocation of symptoms) on the treadmill test and twenty-seven (44%) had a positive result on the bicycle test, whereas postoperatively six and twelve, respectively, had positive results. The mean preoperative scores on the Oswestry Disability Index and visual analog pain scale were 58.4 and 7.1, respectively. Postoperatively, these scores decreased to 21.1 and 2.3, respectively, and both decreases were significant (p < 0.05). Forty-seven (76%) of the patients were seen to have central stenosis on the preoperative imaging studies; forty-one of them had a cross-sectional area of the dural tube of <100 mm (2) at at least one level and twelve had a cross-sectional area of <100 mm (2) at at least two levels. CONCLUSIONS: A positive treadmill test was consistent with a diagnosis of spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication in >90% of the patients preoperatively. Following surgical decompression of the lumbar spinal stenosis, more functional improvement was demonstrated by the treadmill test than by the bicycle test. The scores on the Oswestry Disability Index and visual analog pain scale also improved postoperatively. The severity of central canal narrowing at a single level does not appear to limit the postoperative improvement in either functional ability or patient self-assessment. Patients with multilevel central stenosis were, on the average, older and walked a shorter distance preoperatively and postoperatively, although the improvement in their postoperative self-assessment scores was similar to that of patients with single-level stenosis.