Spine and Stenosis Treatment

It is the narrowing of the spinal canal due to reasons such as thickening of the bone structures and ligaments in the spinal canal or deterioration of the disc tissue.
General characteristics of the narrow spinal canal: This disease has 3 different types: congenital, acquired and developmental. may occur. It can usually be seen in the elderly population, but sometimes in middle-aged individuals. Both genders are seen equally frequently. Stenosis can be seen in two different regions, central and lateral, affecting the spinal canal. This disease is divided into 3 subgroups: primary, secondary and combined narrow spinal canal. Primary stenosis usually occurs due to congenital structural anomalies of the spine or postnatal developmental spinal deformities. The fact that the spine structures of patients with congenitally narrow canals are short and their joints are turned inwards is an important reason for the formation of this disease. In addition, in these patients, the anterior and posterior diameters of the spinal canal are below 10 mm, and in patients with developmental stenosis, although the spinal canal diameter is normal, the posterior elements of the spine (laminae, joints) are thick, and the spinal canal diameter is thicker due to reasons such as thickening or calcification of the ligaments. It narrows, thus causing complaints of stenosis disease. While congenital spinal canal stenosis is most commonly seen in skeletal system diseases such as achondroplasia, in those with later stenosis, it occurs due to thickening or calcification of the ligaments, herniations and spondylolysis of the joints.
Stenosis and symptoms: Most common. The complaint of stenosis is lower back pain and numbness in the legs, especially during walking. These pains and numbness occur especially with the patient's posture. It occurs when the diameter of the spine narrows and the nerves in the spinal cord are compressed, especially when bending backwards, resulting in low blood flow to the nerves. Patients with this characteristic complaint state that they experience pain and numbness in their waist and legs, especially when walking, so they have to sit and rest for a while and then they can walk again. This characteristic complaint is a very important complaint in the spinal narrow canal. What's next The neurological finding is motor weakness and lethargy. Very rarely, complaints such as urinary incontinence and incontinence may occur.
Spinal stenosis diagnosis:
From imaging tests after detailed neurological examination;
 1: Spine dynamic radiographs
  2: Computed Tomography (CT) technique
 3: Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI) technique
 4: EMG: With narrow channel They provide helpful information in distinguishing the diseases that are involved.
  Spine Stenosis canal treatment
In the diagnosis of canal stenosis, a good anamnesis, detailed neurological examination and radiological imaging methods are very important. First of all, it should be carefully evaluated whether the patient's complaints and neurological complaints and findings are compatible with imaging techniques. Correct diagnosis is the most important factor affecting the success of treatment. There are two types of treatment options in stenosis treatment:
 1: Medical treatment (Conservative treatment)
 2: Surgical treatment
Absolute surgical indication. In cases where there is no spinal stenosis, medical treatment should be applied and in cases where this treatment fails, surgical treatment should be the more preferred method. In medical treatment (rest, analgesics, myorelaxant and other physical therapy techniques are applied.

 

Surgical treatment: In cases of narrow spinal canal with progressive neurological findings and urinary sphincter disorder. It constitutes an absolute indication for surgery. Surgical treatment is an alternative treatment option for those whose walking distance is shortened with medical treatment, or for those with absolute or relative stenosis if these complaints negatively affect their living conditions. Surgical treatment results vary depending on the type of spinal canal stenosis and the surgical technique applied.