Background: Lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSCS) is a degenerative condition in which changes in the discs, ligamentum flavum, and facet joints with aging cause narrowing of the spaces around the neurovascular structures of the spine. These changes lead to pain in the legs and back, as well as impaired ambulation and other disabilities.
Objective: To provide an update review for determining the role of ligamentum flavectomy in lumbar spinal canal stenosis.
Patients and methods: This study was carried out as an interventional prospective study on 23 patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis from August 2018 till August 2019. Study was conducted in Orthopedic Surgery Departments, EL-Sayed Galal and EL-Haram specialized Hospitals and aimed at assessment of the role of ligamentum flavectomy in lumbar spinal canal stenosis.
Results: The mean age was 50.5 ± 5.7 years ranging from 41 to 59 years. According to gender distribution, they were 13(56.5 %) males, and 10 (43.5%) females. The preoperative VAS ranged between 5-9 with mean 6.8 ±1.4. Six weeks after operation its range became 1-5 with mean 2.8 ±0.98. Twelve weeks later, the range was 1-3 with mean 1.7 ±0.7. The preoperative ODI ranged between 3-46 with mean 19.56 ±19.65. Six weeks later, the range between 1-18 with mean 7.3 ±7.26. At twelve weeks, the range was between 1-15 with mean 4.2 ± 8.86. At level L4/L5, ten patients (43.48%) have lumbar stenosis. At L3/L4 and L4/L5 levels seven patients (30.42%), and at L2/L3, L3/L4, L4/L5 levels six patients (26.1%) have stenosis.
Conclusion: Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy is one of main causes of spinal canal stenosis so ligamentum flavectomy is an essential step in all surgical management of lumbar spinal canal stenosis for decompression of spinal canal.