Spinal canal stenosis

Last update: 25/09/2018, Dr. Miguel B. Royo Salvador, Medical Board number 10389. Neurosurgeon y Neurologist.
 

Spinal canal stenosis means the narrowing of the vertebral canal through which the spinal cord passes. The most frequent kind is a consequence of osteoarthritis, a disease which consists in the degeneration of the joints, facies articularis and ligaments in such a way that the organism tries to mend itself in an exaggerated and disorganized way by taking up spaces that correspond to other structures and compressing them.

This can compress the nerve roots within the vertebral holes from which they come out as well as the spinal cord within the vertebral canal.

For both above-mentioned cases liberating surgeries are indicated and in some few cases arthrodesis is necessary, meaning a placement of plates and screws. Unless substantial extractions of vertebrae are required, which involve a suffering of the mechanics.