Outcomes of decompression for lumbar spinal canal XXXX based upon preoperative radiographic severity.

@entity2649 @entity1 @entity850 @entity179
BACKGROUND: The relationship between severity of preoperative radiographic findings and surgical outcomes following decompression for @entity2649 is unclear. Our aim in this paper was to gain insight into this relationship. We determined pre-operative radiographic severity on MRI scans using strict methodological controls and correlated such severity with post-operative outcomes using prospectively collected data. METHODS: Twenty-seven consecutive @entity1 undergoing decompression for isolated @entity179 at L4-L5 were included. We measured cross-sectional area on MRI using the technique of Hamanishi. We categorized the severity of @entity850 using Laurencin and Lipson's 'Stenosis Ratio'. We determined pre-operative status (prospectively) and post-operative outcomes using Weiner and Fraser's 'Neurogenic Claudication Outcome Score'. We determined @entity1 satisfaction using standardized questionnaires. Each of these is a validated measure. Formal statistical evaluation was undertaken. RESULTS: No @entity1 (0 of 14) with a greater than 50% reduction in cross-sectional area on pre-operative MRI had unsatisfactory outcomes. In contrast, outcomes for @entity1 with less than or equal to 50% reduction in cross-sectional area had unsatifactory outcomes in 6 of 13 cases, with all but one negative outcome having a cross-sectional area reduction between 32% and 47%. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that there appears to be a relationship between severity of @entity850 and outcomes of decompressive surgery such that @entity1 with a greater than 50% reduction in cross sectional area are more likely to have a successful outcome.
