The Outcome of Laminectomy versus Laminoforaminotomy in Terms of Claudication Distance in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Objectives: The study aimed to compare the surgical outcome of two different procedures for lumbar spinal stenosis. It helped us in the decision-making to go for less invasive procedures, as compared to conventional laminectomy in lumbar spinal stenosis patient patients. Materials and Methods:  An interventional randomized controlled trial was conducted in the department of neurosurgery, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, PIMS Islamabad. A total of 158 adult patients aged between 35 to 55 years with an established diagnosis of lumbar stenosis and claudication distance of fewer than 100 meters were enrolled. Patients were randomly included into two equal groups via the computerized method. In Group A laminectomy was done and in Group Blaminoforaminotomy was adopted. The outcome was measured in terms of claudication distance at 4 weeks after the procedure, and compared in both groups. Results:  The mean age of the patients was 44.92 ± 6.28 years. Poor outcome was significantly lower in the Laminoforaminotomy group as compared to the Laminectomy group, at 4 weeks after the procedure. The frequency of claudication distance > 500m (good) at 4 weeks was found to be 62 (78.5%) in the Laminectomy group and it was found in 74 (93.7%) patients in the Laminoforaminotomy group (p = 0.022). Conclusions:  The study concluded that the laminoforaminotomy is superior to laminectomy, in terms of claudication distance at four weeks after the procedure.