Neurogenic intermittent claudication in lumbar spinal canal stenosis: the clinical relationship between the local pressure of the intervertebral foramen and the clinical findings in lumbar spinal canal stenosis

The clinical relationship between the local pressure of the intervertebral foramen and the clinical findings in lumbar spinal canal stenosis were evaluated. To investigate the pathogenesis of neurogenic intermittent claudication in lumbar spinal canal stenosis. The genesis of neurogenic intermittent claudication is generally considered to result from nerve root ischemia; however, the exact pathogenesis of neurogenic intermittent claudication remains uncertain. From a total of 20 lumbar spinal canal stenosis patients, 29 L5/S1 vertebral foramens were studied. All patients showed neurogenic intermittent claudication, and also showed neurologic abnormalities in L5 area. Intraoperatively, the local pressure of the intervertebral foramen was continuously measured using a micro-tip catheter transducer whereas the lumbar spine postures were changed under passive movement, and the relationships between the local pressure and the preoperative clinical findings in lumbar spinal canal stenosis were analyzed. The local pressure of the intervertebral foramen significantly increased during lumbar spine extension (P