Abstract
Introduction: It occurs in middle- and old-age people with back pain and lower extremity pain precipitated by walking and standing lumbar canal stenosis causes signs of intermittent neurogenic claudication. Conservative management provides only short-term relief. Surgical option includes midline decompression by laminectomy. This method involves damage to the integrity of posterior complex of spine and elevation of paraspinal muscles from the spinal process which results in paraspinal muscle atrophy, spine extensor weakness, andiatrogenic instability of the spine.
Aim: The aim of this study was to find the functional outcome and the extent of paraspinal muscle damage between lumbar spinous process splitting decompression and conventional midline decompression (CMD) by laminectomy.
Methods: Twenty patients with degenerative lumbar canal stenosis are randomly divided into two groups such as CMD (laminectomy) and lumbar spinous process splitting decompression.
Results: In our study, among the patients who underwent lumbar spinous process splitting decompression, 40% had an excellent recovery rate according to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score in contrast to 30% who underwent conventional decompression.
Conclusion: Lumbar spinous process splitting decompression provides minimal exposure for decompression in lumbar canal stenosis while preserving musculoligamentous attachments of the posterior elements of the spine and good post-operative results.