Lumbar spinal stenosis: results of surgical treatment

One hundred forty patients with surgically treated lumbar stenosis were evaluated. There were 70 men and 70 women with an average age of 63 years. The average duration of preoperative leg pain and/or claudication symptoms was 16 months. The average follow-up time was 42 months (range, 12-116 months). Average leg pain improvement was 82%, and average back pain improvement was 71%. Thirteen patients (9%) had no leg improvement, 15 (11%) between 25-74% improvement, and 112 (80%), 75% or greater improvement. Ninety-four patients (67%) had 75% or greater back pain improvement, 29 patients (21%) between 25-74% back pain improvement, and 17 patients (12%) no back pain improvement. Factors significantly correlated with poorer outcome included female sex, the presence of compensation or litigation factors, no relief of symptoms from prior surgical procedures, a diagnostic nerve root block preoperatively, and an objective postoperative sensory deficit.