Lumbar Canal Stenosis

Lumbar Canal Stenosis

Lumbar canal stenosis, primarily affecting older patients, is a condition marked by the narrowing of the lumbar canal, typically progressing slowly, leading to pressure on the spine’s nerves. This often results in pain in the back and legs and poses a growing difficulty in walking.

Symptoms

The prevalent symptom of lumbar canal stenosis is neurogenic claudication—painful cramping discomfort and/or weakness originating in the back and radiating down the legs. Symptoms usually intensify by walking and prolonged standing but typically subside when sitting or lying down. Over time, the stenosis progresses, reducing the distance a patient can walk without pain, often causing them to stop and sit down until pain subsides, typically within 5-10 minutes.

Diagnosis & Treatment

A diagnosis is typically established using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Symptoms generally tend to progressively worsen, with conservative treatments like medication, physical therapy, and manipulative techniques offering temporary relief. When symptoms become severe and persistent, surgery becomes a viable option.

Surgical Procedure

The surgical intervention involves minimally invasive decompression, usually requiring a 2cm posterior lumbar incision, aimed at decompressing the spinal canal by removing the ligament and bone causing the compression. Typically, the surgery lasts about 1.5 hours with a hospital stay of 1-2 days. Post-surgery, patients often experience complete relief from symptoms of neurogenic claudication and can return to normal activities.

Post-Surgical Considerations

Around 10% of patients may develop multilevel stenosis, necessitating surgery at multiple levels. Generally, once the stenosis has been decompressed, it does not reoccur. However, patients with high-grade spondylolisthesis may require a fusion of the vertebrae, involving the placement of titanium screws into the vertebrae to ensure spine stability.

Lumbar canal stenosis is a gradually progressing condition predominantly affecting older adults, causing pain and mobility issues due to the narrowing of the lumbar canal. While temporary relief is possible through conservative treatments, severe cases often require minimally invasive surgical procedures to alleviate symptoms and restore normal activities. Understanding the condition, its progression, and treatment options is crucial for effective management and symptom relief. 

Explore advanced care and treatment solutions with renowned Spine and Neurosurgeon, Dr BSV Raju.

Our happy patients talk