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Spinal Stenosis, Sports Medicine

Stephen Rohrer, DO, FAOASM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Stenosis of the spinal canal is defined as narrowing of the available space within the spinal canal causing impingement on the neural and/or vascular elements of the spine.

  • A general ...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Typically, the earliest complaint is back pain.

  • Bilateral leg pain often involving the buttocks and thighs and spreading toward the feet

  • The pain may be described as burning, cramping, ...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Nonsurgical management of lumbar stenosis may be attempted initially in patients who do not have severe pain or significant weakness. Patients on warfarin, sodium, chronic an...

ONGOING CARE

PROGNOSIS

  • According to the North American Spine Society, patients followed for 2 to 10 yr with mild to moderate stenosis have a 20–40% chance of requiring surgical intervention.

  • Of those wh...

REFERENCES

1
Gross AR, Hoving JL, Haines TA, et al. A Cochrane review of manipulation and mobilization for mechanical neck disorders. Spine (Phila Pa 1976).  2004;29(14):1541–1548.
2
Torg JS, Guille...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Alvarez JA, Hardy RHJr. Lumbar spine stenosis: a common cause of back and leg pain. Am Fam Physician.  1998;57(8):1825–1834, 1839–1840.

  • Atlas SJ, Delitto A. Spinal stenosis: sur...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Experience with the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research suggests that athletes with significant cervical spinal stenosis are at increased risk of quadriplegia and s...

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