Lumbar Spinal Stenosis is one of the most common spinal pathologies in the United States. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis is characterized by narrowing of the spinal canal creating compression of the neural structures causing a constellation of symptoms that may include low back pain, lower extremity radiculopathy, neurogenic claudication, and gait impairment. The rates of spinal stenosis continues to increase significantly as the population of the US ages and the average life span increases. As the number of old age people continue to grow in the United States, it can be expected that the prevalence of LSS will also increase. Spinal Stenosis is generally classified as either congenital or acquired. Congenital spinal stenosis is found in individuals who have short pedicles, which decreases the area of the spinal canal. This is very common in individuals with achondroplasia, but may also occur in people of normal stature. Acquired spinal stenosis is much more common and is caused by central and lateral canal stenosis secondary to spinal degeneration. This stenosis is caused by facet and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, foraminal stenosis, disc herniation, and osteophyte formation.
Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Diagnosis and Management: Ahmed Saleh, Ramin Sadeghpour and Kevin K Kang
Last date updated on September, 2024