Lumbar spinal stenosis refers to a narrowed lumbar spinal canal. Causes include congenital forms from achondroplasia or developmental spine deformities, and acquired forms from degenerative diseases, trauma, spine surgery, Paget disease, or metabolic disorders such as osteoporosis or hypoparathyroidism. The most common of these causes are degenerative changes, including spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis.

Spinal stenosis is frequently asymptomatic but may lead to neurogenic claudication. Symptoms of neurogenic claudication include pain in the legs and/or lower back that develops with walking or standing for an extended period of time, usually relieved by leaning forward or sitting down. Pain may be associated with numbness or weakness.

When spinal stenosis is associated with neural foraminal narrowing and radiculopathy, focal weakness, sensory loss, and reflex changes may occur. Age is a risk factor for the development of lumbar spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis is frequently incidentally found on MRI and asymptomatic.

Related topic: Cervical spinal stenosis