This study reviewed follow-up results of more than 2 years in 29 cases who underwent lumbar decompression without fusion for acquired lumbar spinal canal stenosis between 1994 and 1998. The average patient age was 68.8 years. The mean JOA score improved to 12.2 in the last follow-up from the preoperative score of 7.8 (total score was 15).
Clinical success was defined according to the Hirabayashi scale. The average score was 61.1%. Twenty-four cases were categorized as excellent, good or ; fair only 1 cases was poor. Four cases required re-operation due to worsening of symptoms. The cases required re-operation due to excessive medial facetectomy.
