Static balance after surgical decompression of lumbar spinal canal stenosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Spinal canal stenosis is the most common reason for spinal surgeries in patients over 65 years of age. The aim of the study was to assess static balance in patients prior to and after surgical decompression of lumbar spinal canal stenosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 30 patients suffering from spinal canal stenosis. Their static balance was measured, i.e. quantitative analysis of balance reaction parameters in quiet standing was performed. RESULTS: The analysis of the collected data did not reveal any statistically significant differences between parameters measured prior to and after the surgery (for p<0.05). A tendency for a decrease of measured parameters was observed. The regularity of changes was determined; in addition, for this analysis, the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of the collected data did not reveal any statistically significant improvement of balance reactions after spinal canal stenosis surgery. In spite of pain reduction, there was no improvement in balance reactions, as behavioural patterns for balance reactions had been fossilised before surgery.