Description
Springer Lumbar Spinal Stenosis 1st Editon 2012 Softbound by Franco Postacchini
Up until two decades ago, clinical interest in the etiopathogenetic interpretation of lumbo-radicular syndromes was prevalently concentrated on the pathology of the inter vertebral disc. This vision gradually changed and grew as a result of the affirmation of the concept of pathological narrowing of the osteoligamentous vertebral canal as a cause of compression of the lumbar nervous structures. Finally, in the last ten years, lumbar stenosis has become more and more a subject of current interest not only as a result of problems related to nosography, diagnosis, and therapy, but also as a result of the increasing frequency with which vertebral canal or nerve root canal stenosis syndromes are recognized and treated. At the same time there was a tendency to include in stenotic pathology other pathological conditions responsible for lumbo-radicular syndromes. This led to dilation of the concept of stenosis, which perhaps no longer responded to reality, and which was not useful from a practical point of view. The need to define stenotic pathology and to correctly locate it within the vast field of lumbar pathology inspired the writing of this volume. This monograph gathers many diagnostic and therapeutic concepts matured at our In stitution over the years. Some of these concepts have already been defined in scientific meet ings or in publications. I Historical Review.- II Anatomy of the Vertebral Canal and the Neural Structures in the Lumbar Spine.- Vertebral foramen.- Vertebral canal.- Nerve root canal.- Intervertebral foramen.- Neural structures in the vertebral canal.- Functional changes of the vertebral canal and nerve roots.- Blood supply.- III Definition and Classification.- Stenosis and pseudostenosis.- Classification.- IV Epidemiology.- Incidence.- Sex.- Age.- Physical characteristics.- Occupation.- Familiarity.- V Aetiopathogenesis.- Aetiopathogenetic factors.- Pathogenetic mechanisms.- VI Pathomorphology.- Vertebral canal and intervertebral foramen.- Epidural tissue.- Spinal nervous structures.- VII Clinical Features.- Clinical syndromes.- Differential diagnosis with disc prolapse.- Lumbo-radicular intermittent claudication.- VIII Diagnostic Investigations.- Plain radiography.- Conventional tomography.- Electrodiagnostic investigations.- Ultrasonography.- Myelography.- Discography.- Computerized tomography.- Myelo-CT.- Magnetic resonance imaging.- IX Treatment.- Conservative treatment.- Surgical treatment.- X Results of Treatment.- Natural history.- Conservative treatment.- Surgical treatment.- Conclusions.