[Lumbosacral facet joint stabilization: Mc Bride technique]

We carried out a retrospective study of the clinical results of lumbosacral decompression with Mc Bride technique, in treatment of degenerative unstable lumbar stenosis. Three hundred and forty patients (180 male) were treated during May 1996 to May 2003. Mean age at surgery was 47 years old (22-85) with 3 to 8 years of follow up. All patients fulfilled clinical and image criteria for chronic lumbar pain due to degenerative lumbar stenosis and segmental instability that did not improve with conservative treatment.

We found very good results in 114 patients (33.5%), good in 203 patients (59.7%), regular in 16 patients (4.7%), and poor in 6 patients (2%). The Mc Bride technique is based in interlaminar distraction and permits managing lumbar stenosis and arthrodesis of an unstable segment simultaneously. It diminishes compression in the foramen, maintains a position in extension, reduces facet joints subluxation and eliminates the strategic point of intervertebral mobility in facet joints. It allows immediate stabilization and later fusion by placing a bone block.