[Operative results and prognosis of thoracic spinal stenosis].

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the clinical properties, operative results of thoracic spinal stenosis and factors correlating with prognosis.

METHODS

From September 1992 to January 2001, 16 patients who suffered from thoracic spinal stenosis caused by degeneration, ossified ligamentum flavum, diffuse idiopathic hyperostosis and trauma, were decompressed by operation. The operative method was selected according to the compressed position of spinal cord. All patients were followed up 6 months to 9 years. The pain severity, ambulatory status and paraplegia index were compared between before operation and after operation. The correlation between prognosis and ages, the length of stenosis and the duration of disease was studied.

RESULTS

The results of Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test show significant difference in pain severity, ambulatory status and paraplegia index between before operation and after operation (P < 0.01). The results of partial correlation analyzing show that only the duration of disease was correlated with paraplegia index (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Thoracic spinal stenosis frequently develops in the lower-thoracic segments in middle and old aged men. Decompression by operation early can achieve a good clinical result. Duration of disease affects the prognosis.