Lumbar canal stenosis is a narrowing or stricture of the spinal canal, with potential for nerve impingement, which may occur in the central canal, in the lateral recess, or at the neuroforamen. The diagnosis of spinal stenosis is based primarily on the clinical history of neurogenic claudication, also known as pseudoclaudication. Spinal imaging should be performed to confirm the clinical diagnosis. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of non surgical treatment and decompressive laminectomy in treatment of degenerative lumbar canal stenosis.

Methods: thirty-five patients with lumbar canal stenosis were included in this study, all have an initial course of non surgical treatment for 12 weeks, of them twenty-seven patients underwent decompressive laminectomy in Benha university hospital from June 2008 to March 2009 with one year follow up. Result: Of thirty-five patients with lumbar canal stenosis only eight patients had overall clinical improvement with non surgical treatment, while twenty-seven patients underwent decompressive laminectomy, of them twenty five had good or excellent results and return to premorbid activity levels while two patients had unsatisfactory results. Conclusion: The natural history of lumbar canal stenosis is frequently benign, and many patients respond to non surgical treatment. Surgical decompression should be reserved for when non surgical treatment fails when back and leg pain initiated and exacerbated by standing and walking becomes disabling or intolerable or when progressive neurologic deficit develops.