Spinal Canal Stenosis - Orthopaedics of the Spine - CENTRE FOR ORTHOPAEDICS, SPORTS MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION - Dr. Erich H. Rembeck

Spinal Canal Stenosis

The narrowing of the spinal canal is one of the most frequent diseases of older patients. Through enlargement of the vertebral joints, the yellow ligament and protrusion of the intervertebral disc, narrowing of the neural structures (spinal nerves) occurs. The narrowing of the spinal canal occurs at a height of a intervertebral disc and can occur at more levels at the same time. Typically, a reduction in walking distance occurs due to a weakened feeling in the legs, and in pronounced cases "pins and needles" and even a real feeling of numbness and loss of strength occurs. In rare cases bladder function can be impaired. A spinal canal stenosis is a chronic degenerative process, which increases in the long-term course.

The diagnosis of a spinal canal stenosis can be made with an MRI scan. With the help of an MRI, the position and extent of the narrowing can be exactly classified. The treatment possibilities are varied, although a causative therapy can only be reached by means of a decompression. Nevertheless, conservative therapy methods such as torso-stabilising physiotherapy and physical methods as well as a selective image-intensifier-guided infiltration therapy are very successful. Here, the spinal canal together with the corresponding nerve roots are flushed with a local anaesthetic and a cortisone solution. With this, a long-lasting improvement of the pain can occur. The decompression (widening) of the spinal canal represents the causative therapy option.