Lumbar spinal stenosis and lower extremity arthroplasty

Because of their prevalence in elderly patients, the clinical symptoms of acquired lumbar spinal stenosis and degenerative joint disease of the lower extremity can often be present in the same patient. This study reports 14 patients who had diagnoses of both lower extremity degenerative disease and acquired lumbar spinal stenosis. Five of the 14 patients presented with concomitant symptoms, while 9 of 14 patients presented with clinical symptoms of spinal stenosis an average of 9.3 months following joint arthroplasty surgery. Comparison of the preoperative hip and knee scores between the concomitant and sequential groups demonstrated no differences. Seven of the nine patients in the sequential group required subsequent decompression for their spinal stenosis. Stenosis of the lumbar spine must be considered in patients who complain of continuing symptoms of neurogenic claudication in the postoperative period. In addition, these patients should be specifically counseled before their arthroplasty procedures that subsequent spinal surgery may be necessary.