Spinal stenosis: its diagnosis and management--a clinical and radiological study

A clinico-radiological study conducted on 124 patients including 89 cases of spinal canal stenosis and 143 normal (control) individuals is presented and the various causes of stenosis of the spinal canal are reviewed. Evaluation of canal to body ratio using plain radiographs of lumbo-sacral spine based on the Jones and Thomson technique and myelography were found very useful in diagnosing spinal canal pathology preoperatively. Spinal stenosis is more common in males, predominantly in the fourth decade. Extensive decompression laminectomy in appropriately selected cases yielded satisfactory results, any associated prolapse intervertebral disc requiring excision of the herniated disc in addition to laminectomy.