Spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine: Surgical treatment

   Surgical treatment of spinal stenosis, spinal department is appointed in order to reduce or eliminate the pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. When the operation is the removal or adjustment of the damaged parts of the spinal column. The successful surgery is to expand the spinal canal and reduce pressure on the nerves and, consequently, the elimination of pain, numbness and weakness in the legs.

   If after a course of non-surgical treatment assigned by your doctor, the acuteness of the symptoms exhibited by you is not gone, you can consider surgical treatment. To determine the size and location of the spinal canal narrowing assigned X-ray and tomography examination, such as computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Before making a decision "for" or "against" operational treatment, discuss with your doctor the severity of symptoms exhibited by you and the results of X-ray and tomography surveys.

Surgical treatment may be recommended if:

• The severity of the symptoms exhibited by you limit your daily activities and reduce your standard of living.

• You have a good general state of health, and you do not suffer other diseases that can complicate the process of your recovery after surgery.

   In general, about 80% of patients satisfied with the results of surgical treatment of spinal stenosis. In people with acute symptoms usually after surgery, a decrease of pain in the legs and improve the ability to move around. However, symptoms may be resumed in a few years. Approximately 10% - 20% of patients received surgical treatment require reoperation. 

Selection of surgical treatment

    The main type of surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis - decompressive laminectomy performed to reduce the pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots. Laminectomy is removed vertebra parts (bone or fibrous tissue) in order to increase the space for the nerves. In some cases, in order to fix parts of the spine, with the decompressive laminectomy make spinal fusion. After spinal fusion patients, a decrease pain symptoms and facilitating the movement (improved capacity). Arthrodesis also helps prevent displacement of the bones in a position where the compression of the spinal canal and spinal cord compression.

What you need to think

    Often the pain, and is associated with lumbar spinal stenosis does not disappear after surgery. Most often after surgery reduces pain, numbness, and weakness in the legs.