Lumbar spinal stenosis Lumbar spinal stenosis refers to changes in the intervertebral structure of our lumbar spine due to degeneration of bone spurs, or hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum. This causes local or widespread narrowing of the spinal canal lumen, nerve root canal lumen, and intervertebral foramen. The result of the stenosis can cause compression of the nerve roots or cauda equina, or localized nerve stasis, resulting in clinical symptoms. The clinical symptoms vary from person to person, some people are born with a narrower spinal canal than the average person, and the symptoms occur when there is mild degeneration of the lumbar spine, which usually occurs in people over the age of 60 or 70, more men than women, and most of the occupations are workers and farmers. More than half of these patients will have intermittent claudication, and after walking for a few minutes or steps, they will feel increased numbness and weakness in the lower extremities, and the lower leg may have throbbing pain and numbness in the soles of the feet, and this discomfort must be relieved by resting for a period of time. Patients should undergo a complete neurological examination, including a detailed examination of sensory and motor functions, deep tendon reflexes, bladder and sphincter function and gait, and incidental examination of the hip joint and arterial pulsations in both lower extremities. Differential examinations are required for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and diseases such as posterior abdominal lesions, spinal cord neuropathy, hip disease, disc herniation, and vascular embolism. The doctor will further confirm the diagnosis through clinical symptoms, physical examination, combined with lumbar spine X-ray, CT, MRI and other examinations. The treatment method is different depending on the degree of symptoms. For patients with mild symptoms and whose walking ability is not significantly affected, Chinese herbal medicine can be administered internally and externally, and western medicine can be used to relieve pain with anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. Combined with acupuncture, physiotherapy, massage and exercise rehabilitation therapy, etc., comprehensive treatment. Anyone whose symptoms cannot be improved by conservative therapy (significantly limited walking ability, pain cannot be reduced, significant motor dysfunction or the lumbar spine has become unstable or dislocated) should be considered for surgical treatment. Simple decompression procedures include laminectomy, medial facet arthrodesis and neuroforaminal dilatation. In younger patients with significant intervertebral instability, spinal decompression, intervertebral fusion and internal fixation are required. Internal spinal fixation devices have advanced considerably and can improve the success rate of interbody fusion in addition to providing immediate spinal stability. Prior to surgery, the patient’s age, mobility, bone quality, and the combination of other serious medical conditions should be considered, and the majority of patients will experience relief of lower extremity pain and significant improvement in walking ability after surgery.