The concept of stenosis of the lumbar spinal canal as a cause of lumbar dysfunction was firmly established by Verbiest His reports have been supplemented by a number of others, which have defined the scope and import of this problem. The basic pathology in stenosis is reduction in the dimension of the container so that the contents are under compression. Although systemic skeletal disorders such as achondroplasia and paget’s disease are often associated with stenosis, most clinical problems result acquired changes included by degenerative disease and its consequences. The implication is that persons with smaller spinal canals are at greater risk of clinical disease. The complaints are accentuated by activity and controlled by ceasing activity. Diagnosis of spinal stenosis requires demonstration of reduced canal dimensions, either centrally or laterally or both. The majority of the patients with lumbar spinal stenosis can be successfully managed without surgery. Definitive therapy for stenosis is decompression, and this requires surgical removal of offending structures. With this article we reviewed the lumbar spinal stenosis under light of recent literature and with our clinical experience. [Journal of Turgut Ozal Medical Center 1997;4(2): 236-242]
Key Words: Spinal stenosis, diagnosis, therapy
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