Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis
Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis is a type of spinal canal stenosis and has different epidemiology with less severe degenerative change compared to acquired/degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.
Epidemiology
Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis tends to affect patients at a younger age (30-50 years old) than lumbar spinal stenosis from degenerative or acquired changes.
Pathology
Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis usually results from congenitally shortened pedicles. The etiology in most cases is unknown.
Associations
Radiographic features
Central canal narrowing is the pertinent feature - various values have been proposed (AP mid-sagittal diameter <10-17 mm) but there is no consensus definition .
Features of degenerative disc disease and facet joint arthropathy are often present but mild in severity. Unlike degenerative spinal stenosis, congenital lumbar spinal stenosis is distributed throughout the lumbar spine .
