Surgical treatment of symptomatic vertebral canal stenosis in patients with achondroplasia – case report

Authors report the history of two patients with achondroplasia, treated for symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis. Both patients underwent cross-limb lengthening. During control visits they reported lumbar spine pain with increasing neurogenic claudication. In magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine, we measured dural sac cross-sectional area (DSCSA) and spinal canal cross-sectional area (SCCSA) and the patients were qualified to the group of patients with critical spinal stenosis. They underwent “split” type laminotomy in the lumbar spine. In both patients, based on the Oswestry questionnaire, we noted very good result of surgical treatment. The most important change was increase of the walking distance after the procedure. In patients suffering from achondroplasia, with critical lumbar spinal canal stenosis and neurological symptoms the procedure of choice is surgical treatment. Surgical decompression of the spinal canal using “split” type laminotomy is an effective technique, preventing the destabilization of the posterior column and sagittal imbalance of the spine.