CLINICAL ARTICLE

 

Lumbar spinal stenosis

 

 

JA Shipley

MMed(Orth); Department Orthopaedic Surgery, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein

Correspondence

 

 

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ABSTRACT

Lumbar spinal stenosis is diagnosed by the clinical picture of radiculopathy and / or spinal claudication caused by narrowing of the spinal canal. Anatomical and radiological features correlate poorly with the clinical features, and are of little prognostic value. The natural history is very benign with fluctuating levels and types of symptoms. Indications for surgery must be individualized, but decompression is effective in the short and medium term. Fusion is only indicated in the case of instability.

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Correspondence:
Prof JA Shipley MMed(Orth)
Department Orthopaedic Surgery
University of the Free State, Bloemfontein
Tel: (051) 405-2242; Fax: (051) 430-7101
legraner@fshealth.gov.za