OBJECT: Microsurgical decompression of the lumbar spine is a beneficial approach for selected patients of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). The purpose of this prospective study was to describe the clinical results of surgical treatment for microsurgical bilateral decompression via unilateral approach on patients with LSS with multiple-level involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-three consecutive patients who had microsurgical bilateral decompression via unilateral approach of more than two spinal levels were included in this study. Seventy-seven patients who had surgery at a single level over the same time periods were compared as a single-level LSS group. RESULTS: The preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores averaged 11.7 points, and the postoperative scores averaged 21.2 points with an average recovery rate (RR) of 56% in the multiple-level LSS group. There was no significant difference in the RR between the groups. There were no major complications related to the surgery in the both groups. CONCLUSION: Microsurgical bilateral decompression via unilateral approach was a useful and safe operative procedure for LSS patients. Sufficient clinical results that were comparable to single-level LSS patients were obtained even in the patients with multiple-level LSS, if the patient were correctly selected and the microsurgical decompression surgery were carefully performed.
OBJECT: Microsurgical decompression of the lumbar spine is a beneficial approach for selected patients of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). The purpose of this prospective study was to describe the clinical results of surgical treatment for microsurgical bilateral decompression via unilateral approach on patients with LSS with multiple-level involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-three consecutive patients who had microsurgical bilateral decompression via unilateral approach of more than two spinal levels were included in this study. Seventy-seven patients who had surgery at a single level over the same time periods were compared as a single-level LSS group. RESULTS: The preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores averaged 11.7 points, and the postoperative scores averaged 21.2 points with an average recovery rate (RR) of 56% in the multiple-level LSS group. There was no significant difference in the RR between the groups. There were no major complications related to the surgery in the both groups. CONCLUSION: Microsurgical bilateral decompression via unilateral approach was a useful and safe operative procedure for LSS patients. Sufficient clinical results that were comparable to single-level LSS patients were obtained even in the patients with multiple-level LSS, if the patient were correctly selected and the microsurgical decompression surgery were carefully performed.
Authors: Y Eguchi; S Ohtori; S Orita; H Kamoda; G Arai; T Ishikawa; M Miyagi; G Inoue; M Suzuki; Y Masuda; H Andou; M Takaso; Y Aoki; T Toyone; A Watanabe; K Takahashi Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2011-09-15 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Jon D Lurie; Anna N Tosteson; Tor D Tosteson; Eugene Carragee; John A Carrino; John Carrino; Jay Kaiser; Roberto T Blanco Sequeiros; Amy Rosen Lecomte; Margaret R Grove; Emily A Blood; Loretta H Pearson; James N Weinstein; Richard Herzog Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2008-06-15 Impact factor: 3.468