• Kenta Kikuike, Kei Miyamoto, Hideo Hosoe, and Katsuji Shimizu.
• Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
• J Spinal Disord Tech. 2009 Dec 1;22(8):593-601.

Study DesignRetrospective study of clinical outcomes of 1-staged combined cervical and lumbar decompression for patients with tandem spinal stenosis (TSS).ObjectiveTo describe middle-term clinical outcomes of this procedure.Summary And Background DataLittle is known with regard to the clinical outcomes of 1-staged combined cervical and lumbar decompression for TSS.MethodSurgical intervention, perioperative complications, and clinical outcomes were reviewed in 17 TSS patients who underwent 1-staged combined cervical and lumbar decompression and were followed-up for more than 3 years. Clinical symptoms were evaluated using the Japan Orthopaedic Association Score for back pain (JOA-B) and cervical myelopathy (JOA-C) and activity of daily life, before surgery, at 6 months postoperatively, and at final follow-up. Patient satisfaction was determined at final follow-up.ResultsThe JOA-B, JOA-C scores, and activities of daily life improved significantly 6 months after surgery, but ultimately deteriorated. At 6 months, the improvement ratios in JOA-B and JOA-C scores were positively correlated. Complications involving other parts of the body significantly influenced clinical deterioration. Twelve patients (71%) were satisfied.ConclusionsOne-staged combined cervical and lumbar decompression for TSS provided fair results, even for elderly patients. Although reasons other than spinal pathology affected symptom deterioration at final follow-up, most patients expressed satisfaction at middle-term follow-up periods.

54 keywords...

hide…