Abstract

Objectives : Many surgical procedures have been introduced to a symptomatic lumbar stenosis. Most of these procedures still have been regarded as an extensive surgical intervention with respect to normal aging process of the lumbar spine. We adopted a microsurgical decompression procedure via unilateral exposure as a minimally invasive intervention for symptomatic lumbar stenosis without instability. Materials and Methods : Fifty-seven patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis underwent microsurgical decompression via unilateral laminotomy between March 1998 and December 1999. The conceptual modification and technical refinements were added to the previously reported microsurgical decompression procedure. Bilateral decompression through a unilateral laminotomy hole was performed in 11 patients. These patients profile also included 9 cases of degenerative spondylolisthesis(Grade I) without instability. Results : Preoperative neurogenic intermittent claudication(NIC) was more notably improved than low back pain, 60% to 82% during the follow-up period. Overall clinical results were excellent in 20(35%), good in 29(51%), fair in 6(11%) and poor in 2(3%). Conclusions : Microsurgical decompression for lumbar stenosis with stable spine provided a satisfactory symptomatic improvement without extensive destruction of the weight-bearing structures and functional mobile segments, even bilateral symptoms existed.

Keywords

• Lumbar stenosis;
• Microsurgical decompression;
• Posterior approach;
• Unilateral laminotomy