Outcome of back pain in patients with lumbar canal stenosis, after decompression without fusion or instrumentation

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment for lower limb manifestations of lumbar disc prolapse and lumbar canal stenosis is a standard procedure. However, there is considerable debate about the proper management of associated low back pain. OBJECT:We aimed to assess the outcome of back pain in patients with lumbar canal stenosis after decompression without fusion or instrumentation. METHODS:Fifty patients were included in the current retrospective study. Intraoperative formal laminectomy or minimally invasive unilateral or bilateral laminotomy was done. The back pain and leg pain were evaluated preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively using the visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS:The baseline of low back pain was 6 or more according to the VAS. The mean age of the patients was 50.2 years, 60% of them were males. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 33.36. Single level decompression was done in 44% of the patients, while 56% had 2 or more levels of decompression. The mean preoperative and postoperative back pain according to VAS, were 6.46 and 4.74, respectively, while the mean preoperative and postoperative leg pain according to VAS was 7.48 and 3.5, respectively. CONCLUSION: After a postoperative period of 6 months, low back pain improved significantly after decompression only surgery in patients with lumbar canal stenosis in the absence of spondylolisthesis, sagittal mal-alignment or scoliosis.