[Stenosis of the lumbar canal and intervertebral disk displacement in the aged]

The acquired narrow lumbar canal with compression of epidural cavity and nerve root canals is caused by degenerative bony changes and disc herniation. Clinical and radiological findings are described, especially those in myelography and computerized tomography. Complaints, resistant to conservative treatment, with neurological deficits accompanied by sciatica or intermittent claudication requires a surgical intervention even in old patients. The operative procedure includes decompression of myelin and nerve roots by hemilaminectomy or even laminectomy on one or more levels, combined with partial resection of hypertrophic facets of the intervertebral joints and, if necessary, with nucleotomy. Even old patients can successfully be treated by surgical decompression without severe intra- and postoperative complications, if a good perioperative care and an early postoperative mobilisation are guaranteed. The results with regression of the neurological deficits and with good subjective evaluation are demonstrated by the clinical follow-up of 33 patients aged more than 70 years.