[Lumbar spinal stenosis syndrome: classification, pathology and operative consideration]

A total of 168 cases of lumbar spinal stenosis syndrome were operated on in recent 6 years. They included 13 cases of developmental spinal stenosis and 155 cases of acquired spinal stenosis. All patients were followed up for an average of 2 years and 7 months, ranging from 3 months to 5 years and 10 months. The results of treatment were not satisfactory in developmental spinal stenosis (excellent 46.2%, good 30.7%, fair 15.4%, poor 7.7%), but good in acquired spinal stenosis (excellent 72.2%, good 22.6%, fair 5.2%, poor 0). Moreover, with different classification and pathology, acquired spinal stenosis had different results. The authors stressed that it is very important to consider the methods and the range of operation according to the pathological characteristics of myelography and CTM of lumbar spinal stenosis.