Abstract
An impairment of blood supply within the nerve roots and cauda equina is thought to be one of the mechanism producing symptoms in lumbar spinal stenosis. We hypothesize that improvement of circulation within nerve tissue will improve the symptoms. The purpose of this study is to estimate the effect of the drip infusion therapy with prostaglandin El for the patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Fifteen patients failed in conservative treatment were administered prostaglandin El for 2 weeks. Twelve patients of them showed some improvement in their symptoms following this treatment. The mean JOA score significantly improved from 7.4 points to 9.7 points. Subjective symptom showed significant improvement, but objective symptom didn't show it. The mean walking distance measured by treadmill showed an increase of 214% with a significant difference. The patients with a mild inter-mittent claudication demonstrated significant improvement in JOA score compared with those with a severe one. The thermographical examination indicated an elevation of skin temperature in 12 patients. Five had continuous improvement for more than 3 months, but seven patients recured during a mean of 5.3 week follow up. These results suggest that drip infusion therapy with prostaglandin El can be recommended treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis.
