LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP IN LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS

In a retrospective study the charts of 72 patients who had decompressi ve surgery for lumbar stenosis between 1987 and 1990 were evaluated, M ean first follow up was 2.5 years (range 1.5 years to 3.5 years), A se cond follow up was done 8 years after surgery via mail, The mean age w as 59.7 years (females 63.7, males 55 years), The average interval bet ween the onset of complaints to surgery was 6 years. Claudicatio inter mittens was found in 34.7% of cases, Patients were divided into four g roups according to the classification by Arnoldi from 1976, Laminectom y or hemilaminectomy was performed in 73.6% of cases, In 68.1% nucleot omy was performed. In the first follow up outcome of patients was good in 73.6%. Complete recovery was noted in 61.1%. 11% were not satisfie d with operative results. Old patients especially benefitted from the operation. In the second follow up after 8 years only 62.1% of the pat ients mentioned that their results were unchanged, good or better than at the first evaluation. The other 37.9% complained of a poorer resul t.