Lumbar spinal stenosis. A retrospective study of 163 cases in southern Sweden.

I assessed the incidence of lumbar spinal stenosis as well as the frequency of severe neurological symptoms and signs based on patients seen in 2 orthopedic departments. The annual incidence in Malmõ, 1982-1986, was 59 and in the period 1987-1991, 47 per million inhabitants. In Växjö, 1987-1991, the annual incidence was 45 per million. Severe neurological symptoms were few. Reduced EHL power and peroneal paresis were the most prevalent signs and were found in 13 and 12 percent, respectively, of all 163 patients. 1 patient had bladder dysfunction, 1 had impotence and 2 had a cauda equina syndrome.