Results of Surgery for Spinal Stenosis Adjacent to Previous Lumbar Fusion

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The literature provides little data to guide surgical management of spinal stenosis adjacent to previous lumbar fusion. Thirty-three consecutive patients who had surgical decompression for spinal stenosis at the lumbar segments adjacent to a previous lumbar fusion were studied. The mean interval between fusion and the adjacent segment surgery was 94 months. Of the 33 patients, 26 were followed for 3-14 years (mean: 5 years) after adjacent segment surgery and were clinically evaluated and independently completed an outcome questionnaire. Of the 26 patients, 15 rated their outcome as completely satisfactory, 6 were neutral toward the surgery, and 5 considered their surgery a failure. The surgery was generally effective at improving or relieving lower extremity neurogenic claudication. The strongest independent predictive factor of patient dissatisfaction was ongoing postoperative low back pain (r = 0.7, p = 0.001). A higher back pain score at follow-up was associated with continued narcotic use (p = 0.001) and decreased ability to perform activities of daily living (p = 0.05). Six patients required further lumbar surgery during the follow-up period. This study provides the longest published follow-up data of surgical results for symptomatic spinal stenosis adjacent to a previously asymptomatic lumbar fusion.