ABSTRACT
Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the changes and improvement in neurological symptoms of postoperative period lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients and discover pathognomonic radiological features.
Methods: 44 LSS and 37 LDH patients with mean age of 58.70±14.58 (24-81) that have undergone decompressive laminectomy, posterior lumbar stabilization or lumbar microdiscectomy were enrolled. Patients’ demographic data, preoperative and postoperative neurological symptoms analyzed with the JOA scale were recorded and compared with the MRI results. We have measured TIP, M-AP and IF from the patients’ MRI images of axial sections before a decision of surgery. We have also evaluated and graded the protrusion degrees of herniated discs in the sagittal plane of MRI. TIP, M-AP, IF values and JOA scale on were compared between LDH and LSS.
Results: All measured osteal body diameter mean values (TIP, M-AP, IF) in LSS were less than the LDH group. Only IF mean values were shown to be statistically significant p<0.004. Sagittal disc section measurements were not statistically significant for LSS and LDH p<0.182. The pre and post surgery JOA score mean values of LDH was higher than LSS group p<0.005. Lumbar microsurgery discectomy recovery rate was higher than posterior segmental instrumentation.
Conclusion: TIP, M-AP, IF diameters decreased with age, which was the main pathological mechanism of LSS development. This suggests that the degenerative process of the narrowing spinal canal, which increases with age, is responsible for LSS presentation. LSS has a relationship with facet artropathy over other parameters.
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