Unilateral fenestration in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis

The results of decompression by fenestration restricted to the clinically relevant level and side in 50 cases of spinal stenosis are presented. Forty-two patients underwent unilateral and 37 single level procedures. The mean follow-up time was 32 months. Patient assessment of outcome was: 32% excellent, 28% good, 28% fair, 4% marginal and 8% poor. This is comparable to published series. Two patients developed contralateral leg symptoms during the study. MRI showed neither case to be due to progressive stenosis. It is proposed that fenestration type surgery restricted to the clinically relevant level and side provides adequate spinal decompression whilst minimizing the extent of the surgical intervention.