Abstract

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) comprises narrowing of the spinal canal with subsequent neural compression, and is frequently associated with symptoms of neurogenic claudication. To establish a diagnosis of LSS, clinical history, physical examination results and radiological changes all need to be considered. Patients who exhibit mild to moderate symptoms of LSS should undergo multimodal conservative treatment, such as patient education, pain medication, delordosing physiotherapy and epidural injections. In patients with severe symptoms, surgery is indicated if conservative treatment proves ineffective after 3–6 months. Clinically relevant motor deficits or symptoms of cauda equina syndrome remain absolute indications for surgery. The first randomized, prospective studies have provided class I–II evidence that supports a more rapid and profound decline of LSS symptoms after decompressive surgery than with conservative therapy. In the absence of a valid paraclinical diagnostic marker, however, more evidence-based data are needed to identify those patients for whom the benefit of surgery would outweigh the risk of developing complications. In this Review, we briefly survey the underlying pathophysiology and clinical appearance of LSS, and explore the available diagnostic and therapeutic options, with particular emphasis on neuroradiological findings and outcome predictors.

Author affiliations

1. Department of Neuroradiology, Charité School of Medicine, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
2. Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
3. Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation, Salzburg, Austria.

Correspondence to: J. M. Schwab, Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Spinal Cord Injury Research, Charité School of Medicine, Humboldt University, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
Email: jan.schwab@charite.de