Newly Occurring Spinal Canal Stenosis at an Adjacent Level after Microendoscopic Laminoplasty for Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis: Evaluation of Risk Factors

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate postoperative spinal canal stenosis at an adjacent level after microendoscopic laminoplasty (MEL) for lumbar spinal stenosis.

Methods: Overall, 95 patients who underwent MEL for one vertebra were enrolled.

Results: The results suggest that new spinal canal stenosis can occur at a superior adjacent level in patients with a dural canal area of < 85 mm² and an asymmetric facet joint of more than12° in the superior intervertebral space at the decompressed level.

Conclusions: These findings will be useful to determine the decompression range for the prevention of spinal canal stenosis at an adjacent level.