The effect of decompression with posterior spinal fusion on back and leg pain in lumbar canal stenosis

Background: Lumbar canal stenosis, characterized by pain, numbness and neurological claudication, causes gradually worsening back and leg pain, which can lead to neurologic compromise and patient distress. Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) has been used for spinal fusion, with any of the decompression procedures. We aimed to examine the effects of decompression with PLIF on back pain, leg pain and neurological claudication in patients with lumbar canal stenosis. Methods: In this observational study, total of 50 patients with lumbar canal stenosis who underwent PLIF at Bharati Hospital were included from January, 2020, to April, 2022. Selected patients had LS spine X-rays and MRIs. Neurological claudication, VAS scores for back and leg pain and Oswestry Disability Index were assessed at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months post-op. Results: The majority (19 (38%)) of the patients were between the ages of 50 and 60, with 23 men and 27 women in total. 50% of study participants had pain in both legs. Neurologic claudication decreased significantly from pre-op to post-op and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months' follow up, none of the patients reported it. A significant decrease in the mean of VSB and VSL was reported at post-op, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. The ODI score also decreased significantly at post-op, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Conclusions: PLIF with interbody fusion and local graft with posterior instrumentation gave significantly improved clinical and functional outcomes by significantly reducing pain, as determined by the VAS scores for back and leg pain.