An analysis of decompression alone in stable degenerative scoliosis patients in affecting back pain and deformity

Abstract

Degenerative Scoliosis is well known for producing both neurological and mechanical symptoms in addition to producing deformity and sometimes instability. Decompression alone has been treatment of choice in patients with mild deformity with neurogenic claudication or radiculopathy but without instability. However, fusion has been preferred to counter deformity, instability and mechanical forces. We intended to study these variables when treated with decompression alone. We evaluated 38 patients who fulfilled our criteria. Demographic variables like age, gender, duration of symptoms and type of predominant symptom were noted. Clinical evaluation of back pain, deformity angle in supine and standing position was also performed both before and after surgery. Assessment was also done for type of symptoms and levels of decompression. We found no significant changes in deformity or back pain when decompression alone was done in such patients. The patients did improve symptomatically and neurologically. We found that decompression alone can be done to improve non-mechanical parameters in a patient of degenerative stable lumbar scoliosis.