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Magnetic resonance imaging predictors of surgical outcome in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis

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Abstract

Purpose

To identify any MRI predictors for surgical outcomes of patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS) having instrumented posterior decompression (IPD) surgery.

Materials and methods

Seventy patients with DLSS who underwent IPD were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical score of each patient was assessed using the JOAS (Japanese Orthopedics Association Scoring) system, which is mainly based on the subjective symptoms and physical signs of the patients before (JOAS-I) and after (JOAS-II) surgery. Healing rate (HR) was calculated as: [(JOAS-II) − (JOAS-I)] × 100/[15 − (JOAS-I)]. HR >50 % was considered clinical improvement. Radiological stenosis was assessed on MRI and was graded from 0 to 3 at the laminectomy level in terms of thecal sac-nerve root compression, foraminal stenosis, and facet degeneration.

Results

Mean HR of the improved patients (n = 39) was 81.94; HR of the unimproved patients (n = 31) was 34.75 (p < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in radiological stenosis parameters between the two groups (p > 0.05). HR was worse in patients with severe facet degeneration.

Conclusions

Surgical outcomes of DLSS depend on multiple variables. It is not possible to predict the outcomes by assessing only one parameter. The possible outcomes should be analyzed by considering all the factors individually.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Near East University Medical Faculty, Near East Boulevard, Mersin 10, Nicosia, North Cyprus, Turkey

    Banu Alicioglu

  2. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical Faculty of Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey

    Baris Yilmaz & Bilal Aykac

  3. Department of Radiology, Near East University Medical Faculty, Nicosia, North Cyprus, Turkey

    Nail Bulakbasi

  4. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Trakya University Medical Faculty, Edirne, Turkey

    Cem Copuroglu

  5. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Trakya University Medical Faculty, Edirne, Turkey

    Erol Yalniz

  6. Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty of Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey

    Devrim Ulas Urut

Authors
  1. Banu Alicioglu
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  2. Baris Yilmaz
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  3. Nail Bulakbasi
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  4. Cem Copuroglu
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  6. Bilal Aykac
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Correspondence to Banu Alicioglu.

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Alicioglu, B., Yilmaz, B., Bulakbasi, N. et al. Magnetic resonance imaging predictors of surgical outcome in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. Jpn J Radiol 30, 811–818 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-012-0125-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-012-0125-0

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