[Sciatica caused by lateral stenosis of the spinal canal].

Eighty-eight patients (52 men, 36 women) were operated on for lateral recess syndrome, during the 1970-1986 period. 7 had priorly a disc excision; in 11 a chemonucleolysis had been performed. The pain affected one nerve root in 41 cases, two in 8, three in 1. In 33 patients the pain pattern was incomplete. Myelography was used in 77 cases, and was positive in 68. CT scan was used in 43 cases. A posterolateral fusion was added to the unroofing of the nerve in 9 patients, who had severe low back pain before surgery. The results were assessed with a special rating scale of 20 points. They were considered excellent or good in 70 per cent. 6 patients were reoperated from 3 months to 2 years post-operatively mainly for recurrent pain at another level or side.