Operative Results and Problems of Lumbar Canal Stenosis in Elderly Patients above 75 years old

Abstract

This study investigaed operative results of the lumbar canal stenosis in elderly patients over 75 years (range; 75 to 84). Thirty-four patients were classified as degenerative type and 14 patients were classified as degenerative spondylolisthesis type. Laminectomy was performed for 39 cases, fenestration for 8 cases and Luque's S. S. I for 1 case. There were no severe complications.
Clinical results were evaluated by a JOA score, the recovery rate was determined by Hirabayashi's method and the activity of walking clasified into four groups. The pre-operative mean score was 10.4 points and the mean recovery rate was 72.0%. Excellent results in which they could fully walk was found in 26 patients, good with walking within a short distance in 6 patients, fair only with walking in the house in 14 and poor without walking in 2 patients.
A second operation was performed in 2 cases but there were no sass in which symptoms occurred due to instability after dicompression without fusion. We recommed that elderly patients showing signs of Lumbar canal stenosis should be operated on before clinical features worsen.