Reducing decompression levels by diffusion tensor imaging and conventional magnetic resonance imaging in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis

Background The selection of a correct level in lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) remains a common problem and is critically important to the effectiveness of this surgical treatment. Surgery is invasive, and extended laminectomy may lead to secondary surgical complications. The application of diffuse tensor imagining (DTI) and paraspinal mapping (PM) in addition to conventional magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) may be helpful in this respect. However, the superiority of cMRI + DTI over cMRI+ (DTI or PM) in reducing decompression has not yet been established. Methods We compared the surgical levels, determined by cMRI + DTI and cMRI+ (DTI or PM) (self-control). Treatment outcome measurements were performed at two weeks, three months, six months, and twelve months postoperatively. Results The surgical levels determined by cMRI +/- DTI showed less than that determined by cMRI +/- (DTI or PM) with statistically significant differences (p value = 0.0199) and cMRI +/- PM with no statistically significant differences (p value = 0.5503). Conclusions The effectiveness of cMRI +/- DTI in the reduction of the surgical levels in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis is superior than that of cMRI +/- (DTI or PM).