"天窗式"责任节段整块椎板切除减压固定融合治疗复杂性腰椎管狭窄症

[目的]评价"天窗式"责任节段整块椎板切除减压椎弓根钉棒固定融合治疗复杂性腰椎管狭窄症的疗效.[方法]2005年I月～2008年1月对35例复杂性腰椎管狭窄症患者行责任节段"天窗式"整块椎板切除减压椎弓根钉棒固定融合治疗,对手术时间、术中出血、术中并发症及术前术后JOA评分进行评价,根据腰椎影像学观察植骨融合情况.[结果]手术时间1.5～4 h,平均2.5 h,术中出血400～800 ml,平均600 ml,无术中硬膜及神经根损伤并发症.术后平均随访2.5年,JOA评分优良率88.6%,影像学评价融合率为94.3%.[结论]"天窗式"责任节段整块椎板切除减压固定融合治疗复杂性腰椎管狭窄症直接有效、安全快捷,近期疗效满意.     

多节段腰椎管狭窄症选择性椎板减压治疗近期疗效观察

[目的]探讨运用腰椎负荷试验检查配合MRM等影像检查结合临床对多节段退变性腰椎管狭窄症手术定位选择.[方法]2005年12月～2007年6月收治的46～68岁多节段退变性腰椎管狭窄症患者30例,运用腰椎负荷试验检查配合MRM等影像检查,以便确定临床症状产生的责任区域,并采用选择件椎板减压术治疗,采用日本矫形外科协会JOA评分标准评定疗效.[结果]随访时间最短6个月,最长21个月,平均14.5个月;术前JOA评分平均(6.67±0.62)分,术后评分平均(12.68±0.56)分,半年随访时评分平均(13.08±0.68)分,最终随访时平均评分(13.3±0.84)分;经过对手术前后、术后半年、术后最终随访JOA评分比较,采用随机区组设计方差分析,结果显示:术后与术前评分比较P＜0.01,术后半年与术前评分比较P＜0.01,术后最后随访与术前评分比较P＜0.01;而术后与术后半年评分比较P＜0.05;术后与术后最终随访时评分比较P＜0.01;术后半年与术后最终随访时评分比较P＞0.05分.其中术后半年时优22例(73.3%),良7例(23.3%),可1例(3.3%),优良率96.6%.[结论]对于有手术指征的多节段退变性腰椎管狭窄症,行腰椎负荷试验配合MRM等影像检查呵在术前明确"责任节段",据此进行选择性椎板减压手术治疗,近期疗效满意.     

功能定位检查诊断多节段腰椎管狭窄症的作用

目的：探讨功能定位检查对多节段腰椎管狭窄的诊断价值。方法：应用非完全随机法进行临床功能定位检查和影像学检查对比分析，对81例腰椎管狭窄症患者进行临床功能定位检查和影像学检查对比分析。结果：术前腰椎管造影和CTM检查，显示受累共181个间隙及315条神经根。经物理检查和步行负荷试验，部分患者经神经根造影，诱痛和阻滞试验，精确定位诊断并经手术证实，腰椎管狭窄病实际累及123个间隙和178条神经根。结论：对于多节段腰椎管狭窄症患者，可以精确定位受压间隙和神经根。对无临床症状而仅有腰椎管狭窄影像学征象的间隙和侧间隙无需进行“预防性手术”。     

步行负荷试验对腰椎管狭窄症的诊断价值

目的:研究步行负荷试验在诊断腰椎管狭窄症中与腰椎MRI检查及下肢肌电图检查的相符情况,评估其诊断价值。方法:选取2009年10月～2010年10月我院收治的腰椎管狭窄症住院患者35例,临床表现均为症状重但查体定位体征不明显。所有入选病例均对其影像学(腰椎正侧位、腰椎动力位、腰椎MRI、下肢血管多普勒)检查、下肢肌电图及步行负荷试验结果进行双盲检测及评估。观察比较步行负荷试验后出现特定阳性体征(感觉、肌力、反射等变化)所对应的神经受累节段,与腰椎MRI及肌电图检查所反应的腰椎管狭窄部位的相符情况。结果:步行负荷试验后有29例患者主诉出现下肢麻木、酸痛,其中体格检查显示L1/2、L2/3、L3/4、L4/5、L5/S1节段神经根受累节段数分别为1个、1个、12个、23个、16个,其中单节段神经根受累10例(34.5%),双节段神经根受累14例(48.3%),三节段神经根受累5例(17.2%);影像学检查显示的L1/2、L2/3、L3/4、L4/5、L5/S1节段神经受累节段数分别为2个、2个、15个、25个、18个,其中单节段神经根受累14例(40%),双节段神经根受累15例(42.9%),三节段神经根受累6例(17.1%)。31例(88.6%)患者肌电图检查有阳性发现,4例(11.4%)无异常发现,步行负荷试验阳性发现的患者肌电图均有不同程度的异常(100%)。步行负荷试验在L3/4、L4/5、L5/S1节段诊断椎管狭窄与腰椎MRI检查相比无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论:步行负荷试验诊断低位节段(L3～S1)的腰椎管狭窄症与腰椎MRI检查及肌电图检查结果具有较好的一致性,临床上对腰椎管狭窄症有重要的诊断价值。     

多节段腰椎管狭窄症外科手术治疗的功能评价

[目的]本文通过对56例多节段腰椎管狭窄症患者的回顾性研究,探讨多节段腰椎管狭窄的发病特征、手术治疗方法及术后疗效评价。[方法]1998～2002年,56例多节段腰椎管狭窄病人,术前常规行临床神经功能检查,影像学检查包括标准的腰椎正侧位、左右斜位及前屈、后伸动力位X线片、腰椎CT及MRI检查。手术前后应用Beaujon功能评分法,Oswestry disability index（ODI）及visual analog scale（VAS）进行主客观评估。手术方法采用受累节段广泛椎板减压,椎弓根钉系统固定,后外侧植骨融合术式。[结果]经过平均2.2年的随访,病人在临床上Beaujon评分有提高（P〈0.05）,ODI和VAS评分有显著性差异。[结论]广泛椎板减压,椎弓根钉系统固定,后外侧植骨融合术是治疗多节段腰椎管狭窄的有效手段,只要准确地选取减压脊柱节段,该术式可以得到良好和持久的临床结果。     

多节段开窗法在老年性退变性腰椎管狭窄症中的应用

[目的]回顾分析应用多节段开窗法治疗老年性退变性腰椎管狭窄症病人,探讨疗效发生机制并评价该术式的优缺点.[方法]2005年4月～2009年4月,通过多节段开窗法治疗128例老年性退变性腰椎管狭窄症病人,男70例,女58例;年龄66 ～82岁,平均71.3岁.根据临床表现和影像学检查确定减压部位和节段,两节段101例,三节段27例.双下肢均有症状者,行两侧开窗,其中两节段四开窗45例,三节段六开窗16例;单侧有症状者行一侧开窗.开窗为椎板间隙开窗,开窗大小约1.5 cm ×2.0 cm,常规凿除关节突内侧的1/3,扩大侧隐窝,探查神经根,伴有椎间盘突出的摘出突出的椎间盘髓核.[结果]98例患者术后获得随访,平均随访26个月(24～48个月),疗效按Nakai评定标准优良率为91％.[结论]应用多节段开窗法治疗退变性腰椎管狭窄症,对脊椎的稳定性干扰少,不行融合,不用内固定,费用低廉,对老年人手术风险性明显降低,并可获得较满意的疗效.     

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。     

Coflex治疗腰椎退行性疾患的临床疗效分析

[目的]比较腰椎后路椎间融合术与Coflex动态固定术后临床疗效的变化和对相邻节段活动度的影响.[方法]2007年6月～2009年6月期间收治腰椎退行性疾病(L4,)患者42例,随机分为常规减压+Coflex固定组(21例)和传统后路椎间融合内固定组(2l例).所有患者术前、术后随访均应用Oswestry功能障碍指数、VAS评分,并行过伸过屈动力位X线检查,测最并比较两组间L<,3、4>、L<,4、5>L<,5>S<,1>及L<,2>-S<,1>的活动度(ROM)变化情况.[结果]所有患者获得12～40个月(平均24个月)的随访.术后随访VAS评分及ODI均得到明显改善,与术前相比均有显著性差异(P<0.001),但两组间无明显差异(P>0.05).融合组术后L<,4、5>及L<,2>～S<,1>节段的ROM均较术前明显下降(P<0.05),而相邻节段L<,3、4>、L<,5>S<,1>的ROM无显著变化(P>0.05).Coflex组术后L<,3、4>及L<,2>～S<,1>节段的ROM明显提高(P<0.05),L<,4、5>及L<,5>S<,1>节段的ROM无明显变化(P>0.05).[结论]Coflex固定系统治疗单节段腰椎退变性疾病取得了满意的中短期临床疗效,但没有充分证据证明动态固定技术可以取代传统的融合技术,手术适应证的合理选择十分重要.     

多节段退行性腰椎管狭窄症的手术治疗

目的：探讨多个椎板间潜行式开窗，减压术治疗多节段退行性腰椎管狭窄症的手术特点及疗效，旨在较大限度地保持脊柱的稳定性，预防传统的椎板切除减压手术引起的不良综合症。方法：自1994年至2001年，作者手术治疗多节段腰椎管狭窄症286例。其中127例，55岁以下者，采用 多个椎板间潜行式开窗、减压术。开窗减压最少2处，最多4处。结果：参照陆裕朴疗效标准；本组优89例，良31例，可7例，优良率94．5％。结论：椎板间多窗潜行减压术，治疗多节段退行性腰椎管狭窄症，可达到减压的目的，不良并发症少，但应强调影像学检查与临床症状体征相结合，防止手术范围扩大。手术者要具有熟练的脊柱开窗手术技巧，松解神经根管与防止术后神经根粘连是保证手术效果的关键。     

个体化手术治疗重度退变性腰椎侧凸合并腰椎管狭窄症

目的：评价个体化手术治疗退变性腰椎侧凸合并腰椎管狭窄症的临床疗效。方法：回顾性分析自 2013 年 5 月—2017 年 5 月陆军军医大学大坪医院采用个体化手术,治疗 48 例重度退变性腰椎侧凸合并腰椎管狭窄症的临床疗效,即：根据每例患者的症状、体征、影像学表现,判定责任节段,精准减压;根据侧凸的类型应用截骨矫正、钉棒矫正、融合器矫正等方法适度矫正;合理应用长节段融合。观察术后疼痛缓解和功能改善情况。结果：所有患者均顺利完成手术,平均随访 29.5 月,术后患者临床症状明显缓解或消失,术后患者的 Cobb 角显著减小（P<0.01）、腰椎前凸角显著恢复（P<0.01）,VAS 评分显著降低（P<0.01）,ODI 评分显著改善（P<0.01）;未出现严重并发症。结论：个体化手术是治疗重度退变性腰椎侧凸合并腰椎管狭窄症的有效方法之一。     

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.     

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.     

精准定位内镜减压治疗多节段腰椎管狭窄症

[目的]探讨精准定位责任神经根联合经皮脊柱内镜手术治疗多节段退行性腰椎管狭窄症(degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis,DLSS)的临床疗效。[方法]回顾性分析2018年6月—2019年8月在本科手术治疗76例多节段DLSS患者的临床资料。所有患者经精准定位责任神经根后,根据术前医患沟通结果分为两组:38例行选择性开放椎管减压(开放组),38例行内镜椎管减压(内镜组)。比较两组围手术期、随访与影像学资料。[结果]两组患者均顺利完成手术,术中均未出现严重并发症。内镜组手术时间、术中失血量、切口长度、术后早期术口VAS评分及住院时间均优于开放组(P<0.05)。两组患者随访15~28个月,平均(20.93±3.64)个月。内镜组下地行走时间与完全负重时间均显著早于开放组(P<0.05)。随时间推移,两组患者VAS、腰椎J0A和0DI评分均显著下降(P<0.05),而J0A评分显著增加(P<0.05)。内镜组术后2周及术后3个月腰痛VAS、腰椎J0A均显著优于开放组(P<0.05),且术后3个月0DI评分优于开放组(P<0.05)。末次随访两组间MacNab评级差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。影像方面,两组腰椎前凸角均显著改善(P<0.05),椎间隙高度无显著改变(P>0.05)。[结论]在明确责任神经根基础上,经皮脊柱内镜手术治疗多节段DLSS,较开放术式恢复快、安全性高。     

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.     

291例腰椎管狭窄症患者的临床特点分析

目的：总结腰椎管狭窄症的临床特点，探讨狭窄节段范围与临床表现的关系。方法：回顾性分析291例经手术证实的腰椎管狭窄症患者的临床资料，其中男125例，女166例，年龄28-89岁，平均60．2岁。对其发病规律，临床表现特点进行归纳分析。根据狭窄范围，分为2组，单节段狭窄组149例；多节段狭窄组142例。对两组患者的主要症状体征进行对比分析。结果：腰椎管狭窄症好发于中老年，慢性起病：首发症状以腰痛最常见，间歇性跛行（86．6％）、腰痛（82．8％）、下肢麻木（60．1％）为常见症状；临床体征以腰背部压痛（58．8％）、下肢皮肤针刺觉异常（58．0％）、腰椎活动受限（43.3％）和下肢肌力减弱（42.3％）多见。大小便功能异常发生率单节段狭窄组为0．67％，多节段狭窄组为5．63％，两组之间差异有显著性（P〈0．05）；下肢肌力减弱发生率前者为32．9％．后者为52．1％，两组之间有显著性差异（P〈0．05）；而两组患者的间歇性跛行、下肢放射痛、下肢麻木、下肢皮肤针刺觉异常等发生率无明显差异。结论：腰椎管狭窄症患者好发于中老年人，以慢性起病为主，临床主要表现为累及下肢的变化多样的神经症状和体征，多节段狭窄患者更容易引起下肢肌力减弱和马尾神经损害。     

Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and its imposters: three case studies

Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis causing neurogenic claudicaton is a common condition impacting walking ability in older adults. There are other highly prevalent conditions in this patient population that have similar signs and symptoms and cause limited walking ability. The purpose of this study is to highlight the diagnostic challenges using three case studies of older adults who present with limited walking ability who have imaging evidence of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.     

The diagnostic value of a treadmill test in predicting lumbar spinal stenosis

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a frequent indication for spinal surgery. The predictive quality of treadmill testing and MRI for diagnostic verification is not yet clearly defined. Aim of the current study was to assess correlations between treadmill testing and MRI findings in the lumbar spine. Twenty-five patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were prospectively examined. Treadmill tests were performed and the area of the dural sac and neuroforamina was examined with MRI for the narrowest spinal segment. VAS and ODI were used for clinical assessment. The median age of the patients was 67 years. In the narrowest spinal segment the median area of the dural sac was 91 mm². The median ODI was 66 per cent. The median walking distance in the treadmill test was 70 m. The distance reached in the treadmill test correlated with the area of the dural sac (Spearman’s ρ = 0.53) and ODI (ρ = −0.51), but not with the area of the neuroforamina and VAS. The distance reached in the treadmill test predicts the grade of stenosis in MRI but has a limited diagnostic importance for the level of clinical symptoms in lumbar spinal stenosis.     

The degree of decompressive relief and its relation to clinical outcome in patients undergoing surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis.

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional, clinical study to evaluate surgical decompression of the stenotic area monitored by computed tomographic scan and its relation to clinical variables in patients operated on for lumbar spinal stenosis. OBJECTIVE: To study in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis the influence of the degree of compressive relief on the patients' clinical outcome. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The goal of surgical treatment in lumbar spinal stenosis is to decompress the stenotic area. Although the decompression should be adequate, there are no clear guidelines to determine the extent of necessary decompression. In fact, there is clinical evidence that there is a discrepancy between the surgical outcome in the patient with lumbar spinal stenosis and postoperative radiologic findings. METHODS: In 92 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis who had had no prior back surgery, preoperative and postoperative computed tomographic scans were obtained to determine the degree of decompression. The postoperative scan findings were classified according to the degree of decompression into a no-stenosis group (n = 35), an adjacent-stenosis group (n = 27), and a residual-stenosis group (n = 30). The postoperative instability of the lumbar spine was investigated by functional radiography. The subjective disability of the patients was assessed using the Oswestry score and the severity of pain using the visual analog scale. Walking capacity was evaluated by a treadmill test. The patients' estimations of the results of surgery were classified into groups of satisfied patients and dissatisfied patients. RESULTS: The mean Oswestry score in all 92 patients was 27.1, and mean walking capacity was 630 m. In the satisfied patients, the Oswestry score was 18.8 and in the dissatisfied patients, 34.9 (P < 0.0000). Walking capacity was 690 m and 594 m, respectively. There were 30 patients with postoperative spinal instability, but it had no influence on surgical outcome. There were no differences in the Oswestry score, walking capacity, and patients' satisfaction among the postoperative CT groups. In the linear regression analysis, the satisfied patient corresponded significantly with the Oswestry score. CONCLUSIONS: The satisfaction of the patients with the results of surgery was more important in surgical outcome than the degree of decompression detected on computed tomographic scan.     

Simultaneous cervical and lumbar surgery for combined symptomatic cervical and lumbar spinal stenoses

Spinal stenosis may rarely involve both cervical and lumbar spines. An alternative surgical strategy used for the treatment of combined cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis is presented. Two cases with symptomatic combined stenosis of the cervical and lumbar spinal canal are described. Simultaneous surgery was performed in both cases. The combined stenosis of the cervical and lumbar spinal canal dictates careful neurologic and neuroradiologic examinations. Simultaneous surgery is an alternative approach for patients with symptomatic multilevel spinal stenoses, whose general conditions necessitate a one-session and short-lasting surgery.     

Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: correlation with Oswestry Disability Index and MR Imaging

Because neither the degree of constriction of the spinal canal considered to be symptomatic for lumbar spinal stenosis nor the relationship between the clinical appearance and the degree of a radiologically verified constriction is clear, a correlation of patient’s disability level and radiographic constriction of the lumbar spinal canal is of interest. The aim of this study was to establish a relationship between the degree of radiologically established anatomical stenosis and the severity of self-assessed Oswestry Disability Index in patients undergoing surgery for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. Sixty-three consecutive patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis who were scheduled for elective surgery were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and completed a self-assessment Oswestry Disability Index questionnaire. Quantitative image evaluation for lumbar spinal stenosis included the dural sac cross-sectional area, and qualitative evaluation of the lateral recess and foraminal stenosis were also performed. Every patient subsequently answered the national translation of the Oswestry Disability Index questionnaire and the percentage disability was calculated. Statistical analysis of the data was performed to seek a relationship between radiological stenosis and percentage disability recorded by the Oswestry Disability Index. Upon radiological assessment, 27 of the 63 patients evaluated had severe and 33 patients had moderate central dural sac stenosis; 11 had grade 3 and 27 had grade 2 nerve root compromise in the lateral recess; 22 had grade 3 and 37 had grade 2 foraminal stenosis. On the basis of the percentage disability score, of the 63 patients, 10 patients demonstrated mild disability, 13 patients moderate disability, 25 patients severe disability, 12 patients were crippled and three patients were bedridden. Radiologically, eight patients with severe central stenosis and nine patients with moderate lateral stenosis demonstrated only minimal disability on percentage Oswestry Disability Index scores. Statistical evaluation of central and lateral radiological stenosis versus Oswestry Disability Index percentage scores showed no significant correlation. In conclusion, lumbar spinal stenosis remains a clinico-radiological syndrome, and both the clinical picture and the magnetic resonance imaging findings are important when evaluating and discussing surgery with patients having this diagnosis. MR imaging has to be used to determine the levels to be decompressed.