Clinical Presentation of Lumbosacral Spinal Canal Stenosis Among Sudanese Patients

Abstract

Background: Spinal canal Stenosis is a disabling disease and a major health problem facing most of the population all over the world. Patients suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis develop pain, paresthesia’s, numbness, and weakness in the back and legs due to entrapment of the lumbosacral nerve roots in the constricted neural canal and foramina. Objective: To determine clinical presentation of lower spinal canal stenosis among Sudanese patients. Methods: It was retrospective -hospital based study comprises 101 patients (58 male and 42 female) of post-operative patients diagnosed as severe lumbosacral spinal canal stenosis and undergone de-compressive surgery at neurosurgery department of Alshaab Teaching Hospital and Ribat Teaching Hospital. Interviews using a tested questionnaire were used for data collection. Patients’ files were also studies to determine the type of operation done; the etiology of the disease, and MRI of the patients were reviewed. Examination of the weight and height were also done. Results: Hundred and one (101) patients were selected, the age distribution ranged from 15 to 80 years with a mean (standard deviation) age of 57.0±2.2 years and the most affected patients were more than 50 years 41 (40.6%). It was observed that 59 (58.4%) participants were male and 42 (41.6%) were female. Lower limb numbness and/or tingling were the most common symptoms, occurring in 93 (92.1%) of the patients, followed by lower back pain in 92(91.1%), weakness in 70(69.3%) and sphincteric loss observed in 20 (19.8%). Symptoms were bilateral in 58(57.4%), asymmetrical in 95 (94.1%) and in 65 (64.4%) of patients involved the entire leg. Conclusion: The present study highlighted the clinical presentation of spinal canal stenosis and showed that lower limb numbness and/or tingling were the most common symptom, followed by pain and weakness. Male patients were mainly affected and the age most affected by the spinal canal stenosis was more than 50 years.