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$Unique_ID{BRK04235}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Stenosis, Spinal}
$Subject{Stenosis, Spinal Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Degenerative Lumbar Spinal
Stenosis Familial Lumbar Stenosis Stenosis of the Lumbar Vertebral Canal
Lumbar Canal Stenosis Lumbosacral Spinal Stenosis Thoracic Spinal Canal
Stenosis Cervical Spinal Stenosis Tandem Spinal Stenosis Sciatica Paget's
Disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Cauda Equina Syndrome Herniated
Intervertebral Lumbar disk }
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1988, 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
402:
Stenosis, Spinal
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible that the main title of the article (Spinal Stenosis) is
not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the
alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Familial Lumbar Stenosis
Stenosis of the Lumbar Vertebral Canal
Lumbar Canal Stenosis
Lumbosacral Spinal Stenosis
Thoracic Spinal Canal Stenosis
Cervical Spinal Stenosis
Tandem Spinal Stenosis
Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Sciatica
Paget's Disease
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Cauda Equina Syndrome
Herniated Intervertebral Lumbar disk
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Spinal Stenosis is characterized by measurable constriction, compression
or narrowing of space inside the spinal canal, nerve root canals, or
vertebrae which contains nerves and blood vessels. This condition can affect
limited areas of the spine. Constriction may or may not continue to
progress. In other cases, symptoms may begin as a result of spinal injury or
surgery for spinal disk problems. Abnormal bone growth or deterioration can
cause narrowing of the spinal canal. Nerve and blood vessel compression,
intermittent limping or problems with walking, and/or urinary incontinence
can occur. Pain, numbness or burning sensations may occur in the lower back
or legs. Temporary paralysis of the legs can also develop.
Symptoms
Spinal Stenosis is characterized by narrowing of the space occupied by nerves
and blood vessels inside the spinal canal or vertebrae. It can be marked by
abnormal bone growth or deterioration. Nerve and blood vessel compression
can lead to problems with walking, intermittent limping, urinary
incontinence, temporary paralysis of the legs, and pain or burning sensations
in the lower back and legs. This disorder tends to occur most often among
middle aged or elderly persons although it can be present at birth.
Causes
Spinal Stenosis may be inherited in some cases as an autosomal dominant
trait. (Human traits including the classic genetic diseases, are the product
of the interaction of two genes for that condition, one received from the
father and one from the mother. In dominant disorders, a single copy of the
disease gene (received from either the mother or father) will be expressed
"dominating" the normal gene and resulting in appearance of the disease. The
risk of transmitting the disorder from affected parent to offspring is 50%
for each pregnancy regardless of the sex of the resulting child.)
Affected Population
Spinal Stenosis tends to affect males more often than females, and is usually
found among middle aged or elderly persons. Persons engaging in extremely
rough contact sports with a high possibility of sustaining back injuries
(such as football or hockey) may have more occurrences than that of the
general population.
Related Disorders
Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Spinal
Stenosis. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
Sciatica is a sciatic nerve root disease that causes very severe pain.
It may occur alone or in combination with other conditions. Sciatica is
characterized by pain radiating down one or both buttocks and/or legs in the
distribution of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica can be caused by peripheral
nerve root compression from spinal disk abnormalities, tumors, or rarely from
infection. The nerves may be compressed inside the spinal canal, pelvis or
buttocks. Toxic inflammation (usually caused by Diabetes or alcoholism) may
also cause this type of nerve pain in rare cases.
Paget's Disease is a slowly progressive disease of the skeletal system
characterized by abnormally rapid bone breakdown and formation, leading to
the development of bones that are dense but fragile. It usually affects
middle-aged and elderly people and most frequently occurs in the spine,
skull, pelvis, thighs and lower legs. When the spine is affected, symptoms
can resemble those of Spinal Stenosis. (For more information on this
disorder, choose "Paget" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Cauda Equina Syndrome is characterized by dull pain in the lower back
(upper sacral) region with loss of sensation in buttocks, genitalia, or
thighs. Bowel and bladder function are disturbed. This is caused by
compression of the bundle of spinal nerve roots (cauda equina) below the
first lumbar vertebra. Surgical decompression can be successful in
alleviating symptoms.
A Herniated Intervertebral Lumbar ("slipped") Disk refers to an abnormal
protrusion into the spinal canal of the fibrous tissue (spinal disk) that
acts as a shock absorber between bony vertebrae. The disk does not actually
move, but rather swells outward. The protruded disk can compress the space
in the spinal canal and cause nerve injury and pain. This condition is very
common, and occasionally may require correction by surgery.
The following disorder may precede the development of Spinal Stenosis.
This can be useful in identifying an underlying cause of some forms of this
disorder:
Achondroplasia is an inherited skeletal disorder which is one of a group
of congenital disorders known as the chondrodystrophies. These diseases are
marked by abnormalities in the way cartilage is converted to bone. Skeletal
deformities and dwarfism occur as a result of growth abnormalities in the
bone and cartilage. In some cases, the bones and cartilage of the spine are
affected causing narrowing in the intervertebral canal or Spinal Stenosis.
(For more information on this disorder, choose "Achondroplasia" as your
search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Therapies: Standard
Diagnosis of Spinal Stenosis involves the use of imaging procedures such as
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Computerized Tomography (CT) scan,
myelography, and/or intraoperative spinal sonography (IOSS). Surgery to
decompress the spinal canal may be helpful. Other treatment is symptomatic
and supportive.
Therapies: Investigational
Internal Spinal Fixation devices are being tested for some cases of Spinal
Stenosis. These devices seek to alleviate pressure on nerves or blood
vessels in the spinal canal by mechanically changing the position of some of
the bony vertebral sections. More research is required to determine complete
long-term effectiveness of these devices.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
April 1989. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
current information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Spinal Stenosis, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
National Scoliosis Foundation, Inc.
72 Mount Auburn St.
Watertown, MA 02172
(617) 926-0397
The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Information Clearinghouse
Box AMS
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 495-4484
For genetic information and genetic counseling referrals, please contact:
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
(914) 428-7100
Alliance of Genetic Support Groups
35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(800) 336-GENE
(301) 652-5553
References
MENDELIAN INHERITANCE IN MAN, 7th ed.: Victor A. McKusick; Johns Hopkins
University Press, 1986. P. 465.
SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS: R.J. Nasca; Spine
(October 1987, issue 12(8)). Pp. 809-816.
LUMBAR HERNIATED DISK DISEASE AND CANAL STENOSIS: PROSPECTIVE EVALUATION
BY SURFACE COIL MR, CT, AND MYELOGRAPHY: M.T. Modic, et al.; AJR (October
1986, issue 147(4)). Pp. 757-765.
TANDEM LUMBAR AND CERVICAL SPINAL STENOSIS. NATURAL HISTORY, PROGNOSTIC
INDICES, AND RESULTS AFTER SURGICAL DECOMPRESSION: T.F. Dagi, et al.; J
Neurosurg (June 1987, issue 66(6)). Pp. 842-849.
CAUDA EQUINA SYNDROME: A COMPLICATION OF LUMBAR DISCECTOMY: A.C.
McLaren, et al.; Clin Orthop (March 1986, issue 204). Pp. 143-149.
THORACIC SPINAL CANAL STENOSIS: G.H. Barnett, et al.; J Neurosurg (March
1987, issue 66(3)). Pp. 338-344.
INTERPEDUNCULAR SEGMENTAL FIXATION: E. Luque; Clin Orthop (February
1986, issue 203). Pp. 54-57.