Outcome after laminectomy for lumbar spinal stenosis. Part I: Clinical correlations

J Neurosurg. 1994 Nov;81(5):699-706. doi: 10.3171/jns.1994.81.5.0699.

Abstract

All patients who underwent decompressive lumbar laminectomy in the Washtenaw County, Michigan metropolitan area during a 7-year period were studied for the purpose of defining long-term outcome, clinical correlations, and the need for subsequent fusion. Outcome was determined by questionnaire and physical examination from a cohort of 119 patients with an average follow-up evaluation interval of 4.6 years. Patients graded their outcome as much improved (37%), somewhat improved (29%), unchanged (17%), somewhat worse (5%), and much worse (12%) compared to their condition before surgery. Poor outcome correlated with the need for additional surgery, but there were few additional significant correlations. No patient had a lumbar fusion during the study interval. The outcome after laminectomy was found to be less favorable than previously reported, based on a patient questionnaire administered to an unbiased patient population. Further randomized, controlled trials are therefore necessary to determine the efficacy of lumbar fusion as an adjunct to decompressive lumbar laminectomy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cohort Studies
  • Employment
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Laminectomy*
  • Leg / physiopathology
  • Low Back Pain / physiopathology
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain / physiopathology
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Patient Selection
  • Reoperation
  • Sensation Disorders / physiopathology
  • Spinal Fusion
  • Spinal Stenosis / physiopathology
  • Spinal Stenosis / surgery*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Walking / physiology