Minimally Invasive Combined Interlaminar and Paraisthmic Approach for Symptomatic Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis : Surgical Technique and Preliminary Results.

Kwon, Young Joon

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2007;42(1): 11-15.

Young Joon Kwon

Department of Neurosurgery, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. neuriac@skku.edu

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE
Lumbar foraminal stenosis is an important etiology of lumbar radicular symptomatology and frequent causes of remained symptoms after decompressive surgery. This study was conducted to determine the precise clinical and radiologic diagnosis of lumbar foraminal stenosis, and to demonstrate thorough treatment by decompressive surgery using a minimally invasive technique.
METHODS
Seven patients with established unilateral lumbar foraminal stenosis according to clinical and radiologic diagnosis were retrospectively studied. All patients underwent combined interlaminar and paraisthmic procedure with partial facetectomy. The outcome of surgery was evaluated and classified into excellent, good, fair and poor.
RESULTS
The results were excellent in four patients, good in two, and fair in one during the follow-up. There were no surgery-related complications.
CONCLUSION
Minimally invasive combined interlaminar and paraisthmic approach provides good outcome in carefully selected patients with symptomatic lumbar foraminal stenosis.

Key Words: Spinal stenosis; Minimally invasive surgery procedure