Open AccessThe evolution of partial undercutting facetectomy in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis
Author(s) -
Derek T. Cawley,
Ravi Shenoy,
Adam Benton,
Senthil Muthian,
Susanne Selvadurai,
John R. Johnson,
Sean Molloy
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of spine surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2414-469X
pISSN - 2414-4630
DOI - 10.21037/jss.2018.06.06
Subject(s) - facetectomy , lumbar spinal stenosis , lumbar , stenosis , medicine , radiology , laminectomy , spinal cord , psychiatry
Decompression of lumbar spinal stenosis is the most common spinal surgery in those over 60 years of age. While this procedure has shown immediate and durable benefits, improvements in outcome have not changed significantly. Technical aspects of surgical decompression have evolved significantly. The recently introduced ultrasonic bone cutter allows a precise and safe peri-neural bone resection. The principles of preservation of stability, as described by Getty et al. have remained as relevant as when these were described 40 years ago.