gms | German Medical Science

Operative treatment of spinal canal stenosis (SCS) after failed conservative treatment is a standard procedure. For long laminectomy was the gold standard procedure. Within the last decade several minimal invasive methods have been established. Nevertheless, the success rates of surgical intervention vary. No hard data exist evaluating the extend of decompression needed for successful treatment. Therefore, aim of our study was to evaluate patients with SCS after midline-decompression using post-OP CT allowing thus to measure the extent of decompression done and highlight common pitfalls in spine surgery. Furthermore, data suggest post operative CT-scan as a tool of standardised quality-measurement after decompression of the lumbar spine.

In this retrospective study we included 30 patients aged 45 to 85 years all suffering from spinal canal stenosis and failed conservative treatment. Patients underwent decompression of the lumbar spine from one to three adjacent segments following midline decompression technique performed by two senior surgeons. Post operative CT scan in all planes as well as a three-dimensional reconstruction

was performed in all patients. Following established methods the extend of decompression was reported.

At the time of presentation data of 30 patients will be presented. The results of midline decompression of the lumbar spine will be shown using the post operative CT scan. Especially pitfalls of minimal invasive decompression surgery will be highlighted and presented by this procedure. Criteria for a post-OP CT scan as a standardised method of quality measurement following decompression surgery will be shown.