Lumbar Indirect Decompression
Indirect decompression in spinal surgery means decompression of spinal nerve tissues, such as spinal cord and nerve, without resecting the compressing tissue. Indirect spinal decompression procedures largely can be divided into segmental procedures and global spinal alignment procedures. Segmental procedures are mainly performed by the distraction between two vertebrae, which lead to the opening of the neural foramen and increases the epidural space. Such distraction can be performed through the disc space or using posterior instrumentation. Global spinal alignment procedures allow the spinal cord to migrate dorsally away from areas of anterior compression. Understanding the indirect spinal decompression procedures may broaden the options for surgical treatment and decrease the risk of spinal nerve tissue injury.
Symptoms of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
If you're not familiar with lumbar spinal stenosis, allow us to bring you up to speed: this condition is often the result of aging and “wear and tear” on the spine from everyday activities. Lumbar spinal stenosis, in short, is a narrowing of the spinal canal that typically causes pain, numbness, tingling and/or weakness in the back and legs. Furthermore, this condition is usually more noticeable when you walk and pain symptoms can lessen when you sit or bend forward. If you suffer from the following symptoms, consider getting checked out for lumbar spinal stenosis:
- A dull or aching pain spreading to your groin, buttocks or legs
- A numbness or "pins and needles" in your legs, calves, or buttocks
- A decreased endurance for physical activities
- loss of balance
- sciatic pain
Our pain and spine care specialists can administer a physical examination and use radiology tests, like MRIs or x-rays, to diagnose LSS and rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms.
