Interlaminar decompression in lumbar canal stenosis.
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Opinion is still divided over a standard surgical procedure to decompress lumbar canal stenosis. Both, laminectomy with or without facetectomy and foraminotomy and interlaminar fenestration have been advocated. In the present communication interlaminar decompression in lumbar canal stenosis has been discussed. Sixteen consecutive patients (7 males and 9 females) with clinical, neurological and radiological features of lumbar canal stenosis were treated by interlaminar (fenestration) decompression. The age of onset of symptoms ranged between 22-57 years. Adjoining lamina around interlaminar space of involved segment along with ligamentum flavum and part of facet joint (undercutting facetectomy), extending laterally (foraminotomy) were removed at single or multiple levels. Follow-up response (93.7%) over a period of two and half years showed the results as good in 73.3% and fair in 26.7% of cases, with uniformly uneventful post-operative period. (+info)
Unilateral thoracic canal stenosis.
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Two unusual cases of thoracic spinal canal stenosis are reported. The cord compression was a result of unilateral hypertrophy of the lamina and facet joint. Bony decompression resulted in rapid neurological recovery. (+info)
Atlantoaxial dislocation associated with stenosis of canal at atlas.
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Three rare cases of stenosis of spinal canal at the level of atlas associated with atlantoaxial dislocation are presented. An atlantoaxial lateral mass fixation with plate and screws after posterior midline bony decompression was successfully performed in these cases. (+info)
Laminoplasty: an evaluation of 24 cases.
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Cervical expansive laminoplasty has been advocated as an alternative procedure to laminectomy for the decompression of the cervical spine. It provides favourable cord decompression and stabilisation of the cervical spine and is a simpler and safer alternative to anterior fusion and laminectomy for myelopathy and myeloradiculopathy, due to multisegmental cervical spondylosis and ossified posterior longitudinal ligament. We report our experience in 24 patients with this procedure, 12 of whom had myelopathy and another 12 had myeloradiculopathy. The earliest symptom to improve was radicular pain or paraesthesia (75%). A reduction in spasticity was seen in 21 of the 24 patients (87.5%). Eleven patients had improvement in their motor power during a follow up period ranging from 1 month to 14 months. One patient deteriorated following the procedure and developed Brown Sequard features due to under riding of the lamina on the hinged side, another had severe post operative paraesthesias, while one patient had a CT scan evidence of 'closing of the door', without being symptomatic for it. The technique of the procedure is discussed and the pertinent literature reviewed. (+info)
A long-term (4- to 12-year) follow-up study of surgical treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis.
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Limited data are available about the long-term outcome of surgical treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis, and there is a wide variation in reported success rates. There is also a controversy regarding differences in long-term outcome between patients undergoing decompressive surgery alone and those undergoing both decompression and fusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical outcome and possible complications of decompressive surgery, with special reference to possible differences between patients undergoing fusion, with or without instrumentation, and those undergoing decompression alone. All 124 patients undergoing first-time surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis between 1982 and 1991 at our department were included, and their medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Ninety-six of the patients were available for follow-up and were re-examined by an independent investigator and assessed with a questionnaire after a mean follow-up period of 7.1 (range 4.0-12.2) years. Sixty-five percent of all the patients at the follow-up were subjectively satisfied. Eighty-eight percent of the patients reported constant or daily leg pain preoperatively compared to 43% at follow-up. Constant or daily low back pain was reported by 83% of the patients preoperatively compared to 45% at follow-up. Improvement in walking capacity was found in most patients, and only 4% of the patients who had a preoperatively documented maximum walking distance reported a decreased walking capacity. Twenty-four (25%) of all patients used analgesics daily at the time of follow-up, 34 patients (35%) occasionally and 38 patients (40%) never. The patients with fusions, instrumented or non-instrumented, did not differ significantly from the unfused patients regarding any of the above-mentioned parameters. The results of the study showed that most patients demonstrated a considerable improvement in walking capacity at follow-up. This improvement was significant (P < 0.001) and of clinical importance. A significant improvement regarding both low back pain and leg pain was found postoperatively compared to preoperatively (P < 0.001). There were no statistical differences, judged by all the evaluated parameters, regarding the clinical outcome between patients who were fused and those who were not. Neither were any significant differences found between instrumented fusions compared to uninstrumented fusions. In accordance with most other long-term follow-up studies, about two-thirds (65%) of the patients claimed a satisfactory result at follow-up. (+info)
Unilateral psoas abscess following posterior transpedicular stabilization of the lumbar spine.
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A case of unilateral psoas abscess in a 58-year-old patient, shortly after posterior lower spine stabilization and fusion for spinal stenosis using transpedicular spine fixation is reported. The diagnosis was delayed because the patient's symptoms were referred to the thigh and the plain roentgenograms were negative for pathology. The technetium scintigram and computed tomography (CT) helped localization, diagnosis and treatment of the psoas abscess. Percutaneous CT-guided drainage was followed by recurrence of the abscess, and open surgical evacuation was performed successfully in combination with antibiotic treatment for 8 weeks. Psoas abscess should always be suspected when recurrent pain is associated with fever and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate after instrumentation of the lumbar spine. Hardware of a low profile and volume should be used to decrease dead space in the fusion area, and the volume of bone substitutes should be limited for the same reason. (+info)
The effect of surgery and remodelling on spinal canal measurements after thoracolumbar burst fractures.
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Bone fragments in the spinal canal after thoracolumbar spine injuries causing spinal canal narrowing is a frequent phenomenon. Efforts to remove such fragments are often considered. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of surgery on spinal canal dimensions, as well as the subsequent effect of natural remodelling, previously described by other authors. A base material of 157 patients operated consecutively for unstable thoracolumbar spine fractures at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg during the years 1980-1988 were evaluated, with a minimum of 5-years follow-up. Of these, 115 had suffered burst fractures. Usually the Harrington distraction rod system was employed. Patients underwent computed tomography (CT) preoperatively, postoperatively and at follow-up. From digitized CT scans, cross-sectional area (CSA) and mid-sagittal diameter (MSD) of the spinal canal at the level of injury were determined. The results showed that the preoperative CSA of the spinal canal was reduced to 1.4 cm2 or 49% of normal, after injury. Postoperatively it was widened to 2.0 cm2 or 72% of normal. At the time of follow-up, the CSA had improved further, to 2.6 cm2 or 87%. The extent of widening by surgery depended on the extent of initial narrowing, but not on fragment removal. Remodelling was dependent on the amount of bone left after surgery. The study shows that canal enlargement during surgery is caused by indirect effects when the spine is distracted and put into lordosis. Remodelling will occur if there is residual narrowing. Acute intervention into the spinal canal, as well as subsequent surgery because of residual bone, should be avoided. (+info)
Stenosis of the cervical canal in craniodiaphyseal dysplasia.
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Craniodiaphyseal dysplasia (CDD) is a rare sclerosing bone disorder, the severity of which depends on its phenotypic expression. Hyperostosis can cause progressive foraminal stenosis leading to palsy of cranial nerves, epilepsy and mental retardation. We report the only case of CDD in an adult, with stenosis of the cervical canal leading to quadriparesis as a late complication of hyperostosis, and describe the problems associated with its treatment. Although the syndrome is rare, its pathophysiological and therapeutic considerations may be applicable to the management of stenosis of the spinal canal in other hyperostotic bone disorders. (+info)