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Clinical features and surgical outcomes of lumbar spinal stenosis in patients aged 80 years or older: a multi-center retrospective study

  • Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

With increased aging of the population, spine surgeons have more opportunity to treat elderly patients for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical features and surgical outcomes for LSS in the elderly aged 80 years or older.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively reviewed 702 consecutive patients with LSS who underwent decompression surgery without fusion between 2006 and 2010. Patients with other conditions that could affect functional status were excluded from this study. Of the remaining 304 patients, 241 with LSS whose condition could be evaluated 6 months at least after surgery were analyzed. The mean follow-up period was 14.4 months (range 6–60 months). There were 144 males and 97 females aged 45–93 years old (average: 72.2 years old). Patients were divided into two age groups: 80 years or older (Group A, 46 patients) and under 80 years of age (Group B, 195 patients). We evaluated differences in the clinical features and surgical outcomes between the two groups.

Results

There were no significant differences in surgical levels, the number of operation levels, operation times, or the amount of intraoperative bleeding between Groups A and B. The percentages of patients with comorbidities were 73.9 % in Group A and 60.0 % in Group B, which were not significantly different. There were no significant differences in Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores preoperatively, 6 months postoperatively, and at the final follow-up between the two groups. Furthermore, recovery ratios 6 months postoperatively and at final follow-up were similar between the two groups. The percentages of patients with postoperative complications were 19.6 % in Group A and 13.3 % in Group B, which were not significantly different.

Conclusions

This multi-center retrospective study demonstrated that the benefits and risks of decompression surgery for LSS were similar between patients aged over 80 years and those under 80 years. Therefore, decompression surgery is a reasonable treatment even for elderly patients aged over 80 years.

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Conflict of interest

No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from commercial parties related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori, 683-8504, Japan

    Yoshiro Nanjo, Hideki Nagashima, Toshiyuki Dokai, Atsushi Tanida & Ryota Teshima

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Matsue City Hospital, 32-1 Noshiro-cho, Matsue, Shimane, 690-8509, Japan

    Yuki Hamamoto

  3. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Japan Labor Health and Welfare Organization, Sanin Rosai Hospital, 1-8-1 Kaikeshinden, Yonago, Tottori, 683-8605, Japan

    Hirokazu Hashiguchi

  4. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Misasaonsen Hospital, 690 Yamada, Misasa-cho, Tottori, 682-0197, Japan

    Hiroyuki Ishii, Yasuo Morio & Shinji Tanishima

  5. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Masuda Red Cross Hospital, 103-1 Otoyoshi-cho, Masuda, Shimane, 698-8501, Japan

    Yasuhiro Kameyama

  6. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital, 730 Ezu, Tottori, 680-0901, Japan

    Masaaki Murata

Authors
  1. Yoshiro Nanjo
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  2. Hideki Nagashima
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  3. Toshiyuki Dokai
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  4. Yuki Hamamoto
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  5. Hirokazu Hashiguchi
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  6. Hiroyuki Ishii
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  7. Yasuhiro Kameyama
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  8. Yasuo Morio
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  9. Masaaki Murata
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  10. Atsushi Tanida
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  11. Shinji Tanishima
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  12. Ryota Teshima
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yoshiro Nanjo.

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Nanjo, Y., Nagashima, H., Dokai, T. et al. Clinical features and surgical outcomes of lumbar spinal stenosis in patients aged 80 years or older: a multi-center retrospective study. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 133, 1243–1248 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-013-1808-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-013-1808-4

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