Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis may be defined as any type of narrowing of the spinal canal, nerve root canal or intervertebral foramen. The resultant nerve root compression leads to nerve root - ischaemia, presenting with back, buttock or leg pain provoked by exercise. Spinal stenosis may be congenital, as is the case - in achondroplasia, or acquired, as is the case for degenerative types (commonly presenting between 50 and 70 years of age). The narrowing is caused by facet joint hypertrophy , disc bulg - ing and ligamentum flavum thickening. Symptoms of spinal claudication can be distinguished from vascular claudication because they are frequently associated with neurological symptoms, are often worse in e xtension and pedal pulses are present on clinical examination. Symptoms progress in approximately 20–33% of patients who receive no treatment. The condition may be treated successfully by surgi - cal decompression alone with preservation of the facet joints. Summary box 37.5 Spinal stenosis /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF

Extremely common condition in the 50- to 70-year age group Classic symptoms: back, buttock, thigh and calf pain Provoked by walking and extended posture Relieved by /f_l exed posture Symptoms progress in up to one-third of untreated patients

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis may be defined as any type of narrowing of the spinal canal, nerve root canal or intervertebral foramen. The resultant nerve root compression leads to nerve root - ischaemia, presenting with back, buttock or leg pain provoked by exercise. Spinal stenosis may be congenital, as is the case - in achondroplasia, or acquired, as is the case for degenerative types (commonly presenting between 50 and 70 years of age). The narrowing is caused by facet joint hypertrophy , disc bulg - ing and ligamentum flavum thickening. Symptoms of spinal claudication can be distinguished from vascular claudication because they are frequently associated with neurological symptoms, are often worse in e xtension and pedal pulses are present on clinical examination. Symptoms progress in approximately 20–33% of patients who receive no treatment. The condition may be treated successfully by surgi - cal decompression alone with preservation of the facet joints. Summary box 37.5 Spinal stenosis /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF

Extremely common condition in the 50- to 70-year age group Classic symptoms: back, buttock, thigh and calf pain Provoked by walking and extended posture Relieved by /f_l exed posture Symptoms progress in up to one-third of untreated patients

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis may be defined as any type of narrowing of the spinal canal, nerve root canal or intervertebral foramen. The resultant nerve root compression leads to nerve root - ischaemia, presenting with back, buttock or leg pain provoked by exercise. Spinal stenosis may be congenital, as is the case - in achondroplasia, or acquired, as is the case for degenerative types (commonly presenting between 50 and 70 years of age). The narrowing is caused by facet joint hypertrophy , disc bulg - ing and ligamentum flavum thickening. Symptoms of spinal claudication can be distinguished from vascular claudication because they are frequently associated with neurological symptoms, are often worse in e xtension and pedal pulses are present on clinical examination. Symptoms progress in approximately 20–33% of patients who receive no treatment. The condition may be treated successfully by surgi - cal decompression alone with preservation of the facet joints. Summary box 37.5 Spinal stenosis /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF

Extremely common condition in the 50- to 70-year age group Classic symptoms: back, buttock, thigh and calf pain Provoked by walking and extended posture Relieved by /f_l exed posture Symptoms progress in up to one-third of untreated patients