European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:  Lumbar spinal canal stenosis is one of the most common cause of chronic back pain in middle aged and elderly patients. The incidence of acquired lumbar stenosis is approximately 1 per 1000 in individuals older than 65 years. Aim: to find the functional outcome following posterior decompression for lumbar canal stenosis using spinaplasty technique. Material and methods: Present study was a observational study done in department of orthopaedics in tertiary care hospital. Totally 22 patients were included in the study out of which 2 patients were excluded due to loss of follow up. All patients underwent wide posterior decompression surgery at respective levels using spinaplasty technique. Wound was inspected every 3 days and IV antibiotics (cefoperazone+ sulbactam) was given for the first 3 days which were then changed to oral antibitotics(ceftriaxone) following surgery. No patient had surgical site infections/ dural leak/ post operative fresh neurological deficits. Surgical staples were removed on post operative day12 patient were mobilized using lumbar brace. Results: The mean intensity of back pain pre operatively was 5.05, post operatively it was reduced to 3.00 at 1 month,2.35 at 3months and 1.95 at 6months follow up. Conclusion: The described technique wide posterior decompression using Spinaplasty technique for lumbar canal stenosis preserves the posterior ligamentous complex by repairing the median structures i.e spinous process, interspinous ligament and supraspinous ligament by lifting them as a single piece and repairing after decompression.