Neurological Disorders: Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Lumbar spinal stenosis is the commonest type of spinal stenosis. This condition develops when the space within the lumbar-spine (spinal canal) shrinks more than the normal range.

Generally if the front to back diameter is <11m then it is considered as lumbar-spinal-stenosis.

This condition is generally managed by a multidisciplinary team, and a neurologist usually is part of that team.

The lumbar spine consists of 5 vertebrae (individual spine bones). There is a soft disc material between the successive vertebrae as usual to majority of the spinal vertebrae. These bones are also held together by strong ligaments.

The spinal canal (the space within the spinal column) accommodates both the lower end of the spinal cord as will as a bunch of spinal nerve roots called as cauda equina (resembling horse tail). In adults the spinal cord generally ends at the lower border of L1 vertebrae.

Acquired causes like degenerative arthritis is the most common cause for lumbar-stenosis and congenital (present at birth) is a less common cause.

For more details on what causes this condition, how a patient will manifest etc please refer to Stenosis of the Spine.