Year: 2026 | Month: April | Volume: 13 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 1-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260401
Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis: A Review Article
I Putu Lari Sandy1, I Gusti Ngurah Paramartha Wijaya Putra2
1Resident of Orthopaedic and Traumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University/Prof. Dr. I.G.N.G. Ngoerah General Hospital, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
2Orthopaedic and Traumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University/Prof. Dr. I.G.N.G. Ngoerah General Hospital, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
Corresponding Author: I Putu Lari Sandy
ABSTRACT
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a degenerative disorder that results in progressive narrowing of the spinal canal and compression of neural and vascular structures. It most frequently affects individuals above sixty years of age and manifests as persistent low back pain, radiating leg pain, numbness, and neurogenic claudication. These symptoms are typically aggravated by standing or walking and relieved by forward bending or sitting. The underlying mechanisms include disc degeneration, facet joint arthrosis, ligamentum flavum thickening, and osteophyte formation that collectively reduce canal space and compromise neural function. Diagnosis is established through clinical assessment supported by magnetic resonance imaging, which allows precise evaluation of the spinal canal, neural elements, and soft tissue changes. Management begins with conservative measures such as anti-inflammatory medication, physical rehabilitation, and epidural injections to control pain and maintain mobility. Surgical intervention is recommended for patients who experience persistent pain, neurological deficits, or functional decline despite conservative care. Decompressive laminectomy with or without fusion remains the standard procedure, and minimally invasive approaches have demonstrated similar effectiveness with faster recovery and fewer complications. Early diagnosis, timely decompression, and structured rehabilitation are associated with favorable outcomes, while multilevel involvement or delayed treatment predicts less satisfactory results. Comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology, diagnostic features, and evidence-based management strategies is essential to improve function and quality of life in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.
Keywords: lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative spine disease, neurogenic claudication
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