INTRODUCTION

Multifactorial Spinal stenosis, whether central, lateral or foraminal, affects millions of Americans. The clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic (radiological finding) to neurological claudication and radicular pain.

After exhausting conservative methods of treatment, most surgical solutions entail generous bone, ligament flavum, articular facet and disc removal. This in turn could generate, in a high percentage of cases, spinal instability which leads to fusion and possibly to failed back surgery syndrome.

The present abstract deals with the treatment of multifactorial spinal stenosis by treating one of the factors, the disc, with a focused lumbar discectomy.

METHODS

27 cases were obtained from a retrospective chart review from 2009 up to date. We included cases of patients older than 50 years of age with multifactorial spinal stenosis diagnosed by MRI and CT scan, interpreted by independent radiologists. All patients underwent CT scan after discography and were treated with a focused lumbar discectomy. Ages ranged from 50 to 86; 41% females and 59% males. 70 % of patients presented with a combination of central, recess and foraminal stenosis; 78% with radicular symptoms, 11% with lumbago and 11 % with neurological claudication, the latter in combination with radicular presentation. Average follow up was 8 wks.

RESULTS

Utilizing the MacNabb criteria the results were as follows: 41 % (n=11) excellent, 52% (n=14) good and 7% (n=2) Fair with a success rate of 93%. No complications were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

The treatment of multifactorial spinal stenosis with solely a primary factor approach lumbar discectomy is very effective and safe. At the same time it does not preclude the use of other more invasive surgical options should this approach be insufficient