[Neurosurgical treatment of lumbar stenosis. A review of the literature].

Low back pain and claudicatio spinalis are typical for spinal stenosis. Neuroradiological diagnosis is best accomplished by a myelogram. The operative results in patients with a lumbar spinal canal stenosis are successful in 85.5%. Radicular pain responds better than lumbar pain. Severe complications such as new persistent neurological deficits are rare. If the operation is performed early the results are usually better than with delayed surgery. The decompression should be adapted to the type and extent of the stenosis. Additional removal of the disc as well as severe damage to the facet joints increases the risk of postoperative instability.