Microsurgical decompression of lumbar spinal stenosis

Lumbar spinal stenosis in most cases is due to progressive degeneration of the spine, resulting in thickening of facet joints and flaval ligament. Thus the diameter of the lumbar spinal canal is reduced to less than 12 mm in the AP direction. Typically complaints consist in neurogenic claudication. Patients usually experience improvement of pain when bending their back or walking up a hill. Diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis is confirmed by MRI. CT myelography may help detect where compression is most pronounced. Surgical treatment should be based on the clinical symptoms of the mostly elderly people and should be performed as microsurgical decompression or in cases of clinical instability as TLIF.