Discopathy in lumbar spinal stenosis

Background. In a group of patients treated surgically for stenosis in the lumbar spine, we compared the pre-operative nature of the pathology of the intervertebral disc as measured by MRI to the treatment outcome. Material and methods. In 30 persons ranging in age from 39 to 68 who reported at least 60% subjective improvement in quality of life after surgery (wide decompression of the spinal canal in the lumbar segment, spondylodesis, transpedicular fixation) the character of the discopathy was evaluated by MRI. Results. In MRI studies from the study group, feature of dehydratation and protrusion of the nucleus pulposus occurred among all patients, while the most common clinical symptom was neurogenic claudication. Non-removal of intervertebral discs protruding less than 6 mm into the lumen of the spinal canal did not cause worse outcome. Conclusion. In this group of patients treated surgically for lumbar stenosis with wide decompression, the fact that a slight protrusion of the intervertebral disc (prolapse <6mm) persists after surgery, in the absence of conflict between the disc and nerve elements, has no influence on treatment outcome.