Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis -: Long-term results after undercutting decompression compared with decompressive laminectomy alone or with instrumented fusion

The aim of the study was to evaluate the longterm outcome of various surgical procedures for lumbar spinal stenosis. Operations were performed on 117 consecutive patients for lumbar spinal stenosis between 1987 and 1992. Pre- and intraoperative data were recorded in a standardized manner. Three treatment groups were distinguished: group I consisting of 39 patients submitted to undercutting decompression; group II, 51 patients, submitted to laminectomy and foraminal decompression alone: and group III, 27 patients, who underwent foraminal decompression and laminectomy with instrumented fusion. Eight years (5-10 years) after surgery a questionnaire was mailed to the patients containing the outcome scales according to Greenough and Fraser [6] and Turner et al. [22] together with questions about residual pain, necessity of treatment and satisfaction with the operative outcome. A total of 72 questionnaires (61.6%) gave enough information for analysis. After a mean follow-up of 8 years, walking capacity had increased significantly in all groups (P < 0.001). Compared to preoperative values. pain had decreased significantly in all groups (P < 0.01). In group I 36% had good-to-excellent outcomes, and 30.8% and 23.8% in groups II and III (P > 0.05). Forty percent of group I patients were unsatisfied with the result, compared to 38.4% and 33.3% in the other groups (P > 0.05). Overall, 25 of 72 patients (34.7%) had severe constant back and/or leg pain requiring daily administration of analgesics. We conclude that the long-term outcome of decompressive surgery of the lumbar spinal canal, without and with instrumented fusion, is less favourable than was previously reported.