Microdecompression in spinal stenosis: a review.

A goal of surgical treatment is to effectively treat pathology with minimizing injury of normal tissue. Microdecompression techniques are traditionally defined as procedures performed with a small incision using magnification and minimization of destruction to non-pathologic tissues. The good candidates are patients diagnosed of spinal stenosis who fail an appropriate course of non-operative management. These patients should have radiographic evidence of localized spinal stenosis without associated structural instability. Various techniques of microdecompression have been introduced until now. Although more technically challenging, microdecompression have produced long-lasting favorable outcomes via proper patient selection and surgeon training. In addition, the minimally invasive access techniques can greaten the results of microdecompression in the acute postoperative period. Through advanced minimally invasive techniques, the microdecompression will evolve in the future for sure.