What is congenital lumbar stenosis?

What is congenital lumbar stenosis?

A small number of people are born with back problems that develop into lumbar spinal stenosis. This is known as congenital spinal stenosis. Typically, this occurs in people who are born with a smaller spinal canal; because there is less space within the canal, degeneration, or arthritis, can affect them sooner.

What causes congenital spinal stenosis?

Congenital spinal stenosis is present from birth. It is usually the result of having a small spinal canal. Acquired spinal stenosis develops either as a result of age-related changes to the spine or as a symptom of another medical condition.

How is congenital spinal stenosis treated?

Spinal stenosis treatment Most commonly, this is accomplished with a laminectomy, in which the roof of the spinal canal is removed to relieve the compression. Once symptomatic, cervical stenosis typically requires surgery to take the pressure off the spinal cord and restore the normal diameter of the spinal canal.

What is short pedicle syndrome?

Some people are born with a spinal canal that is narrower than normal (see illustration below). This is a form of an inherited spinal stenosis called short pedicle syndrome. The signs or symptoms of primary spinal stenosis may not become apparent until adulthood; during mid-life years.

How is congenital spinal stenosis diagnosed?

X-rays: X-rays use a small amount of radiation and can show changes in bone structure, such as loss of disk height and development of bone spurs that are narrowing the space in the spine. MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radio waves and a powerful magnet to create cross-sectional images of the spine.

Is congenital spinal stenosis a disability?

If you have spinal stenosis, and it is serious enough that you are unable to work or perform normal day-to-day activities, it may result in permanent disability and you might want to apply for Social Security disability benefits.

Is congenital spinal stenosis rare?

Congenital cervical spinal stenosis is a rare neurological disease characterized by a congenital narrowing of the bony anatomy of the cervical spinal canal (saggital diameter <14mm), predisposing the individual to symptomatic neural compression, such as cramps, paresthesias, pain, muscle hypertonia and weakness.

What is pseudoclaudication syndrome?

Neurogenic claudication (NC), also known as pseudoclaudication, is the most common symptom of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and describes intermittent leg pain from impingement of the nerves emanating from the spinal cord. Neurogenic means that the problem originates within the nervous system.

What is the pathophysiology of congenital lumbar spinal stenosis?

Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis 1 Epidemiology. Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis tends to affect patients at a younger age… 2 Pathology. Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis usually results from congenitally shortened pedicles. 3 Radiographic features. Central canal narrowing is the pertinent feature – various values have been…

What are the different types of lumbar spinal stenosis?

There are three categories of lumbar spinal stenosis: congenital, developmental, and acquired. Most clinicians combine congenital and developmental stenosis. Congenital/developmental stenosis is usually caused by short pedicles.

How do you measure lumbosacral cervical spinal stenosis?

For each lateral radiograph, 2 measurement methods were used (1) 4-line lumbosacral Cobb angle between L2-S1 and (2) the ratio of the anteroposterior vertebral body diameter and spinal canal anteroposterior diameter at the L3 level. We performed logistic regression analyses of CLSS prediction by Cobb angle vs the ratio method in all three cohorts.

What is the difference between spinal stenosis and foraminal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is not to be confused with foraminal stenosis which is the narrowing of the foramina with subsequent compression of the nerve roots. The most commonly affected area is the lumbar spine (see lumbar spinal stenosis ), followed by the cervical spine.