Surgical results in hidden lumbar spinal stenosis detected by axial loaded computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging: an outcome study.

Study Design: An outcome study of patients with neurogenic claudication and/or sciatica with hidden stenosis, detected only by axial loading of the lumbar spine (ACE) but not at the traditional unloaded examination (psoas relaxed position) during computed tomography (CT) myelography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), followed up after surgery.

Objective: To estimate the clinical effect of decompression with or without fusion in patients with hidden stenosis in the lumbar spine.

Summary Of Background Data: A number of patients with neurogenic claudicatio with or without sciatica do not have corresponding imaging abnormalities.