Clinical Significance of Redundant Nerve Roots in Patients with Lumbar Stenosis Undergoing Minimally Invasive Tubular Decompression

• Published in: World neurosurgery 2022-08, Vol.164, p.e868-e876
• Main Authors: Goldberg, Jacob L., Wipplinger, Christoph, Kirnaz, Sertac, Xia, Jimmy, Sommer, Fabian, Meng, Alicia, Schwarz, Justin, Giantini-Larsen, Alexandra, Meaden, Ross M., Sugino, Rafael, Gadjradj, Pravesh, Medary, Branden, Carnevale, Joseph A., Navarro, Rodrigo, Tsiouris, A. John, Hussain, Ibrahim, Härtl, Roger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Case series; Lumbar stenosis; Minimally invasive spine surgery; Redundant nerve roots; Unilateral laminotomy bilateral decompression
• ISSN: 1878-8750; 1878-8769
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.05.061

Symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common indication for surgery in the elderly. Preoperative radiographic evaluation of patients with LSS often reveals redundant nerve roots (RNRs). The clinical significance of RNRs is uncertain. RNRs have not been studied in the setting of minimally invasive surgery. This study investigates the relationship between RNRs and clinical outcomes after minimally invasive tubular decompression. Chart review was performed for patients with degenerative LSS who underwent minimally invasive decompression. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging parameters were assessed, and patient-reported outcomes were analyzed. Fifty-four patients underwent surgery performed at an average of 1.8 ± 0.8 spinal levels. Thirty-one patients (57%) had RNRs. Patients with RNRs were older (median = 72 years vs. 66 years, P = 0.050), had longer median symptom duration (32 months vs. 15 months, P