What is it?
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a condition that clinicians often find difficult to diagnose. Konno et al (2007), conducted a study to develop a diagnostic support tool that clinicians can use in combination with specific history taking, physical examination, and diagnostic imaging to more accurately diagnose LSS. 104 orthopaedic surgeons evaluated 468 patients with lower leg symptoms, and diagnosed 222 of them with LSS. After analyzing the characteristics of those diagnosed they found 10 predictors of a LSS diagnosis and assigned them a risk score.
They summed each individual’s risk score and determined that the prevalence of LSS increased as the total risk score increased. The total risk scores ranged from -2 to 16.
The prevalence of LSS in each quartile were:
- -2 to 5: 6.3%
- 6 to 8: 39.3%
- 9 to 11: 72.4%
- 12 to 16: 99.0%
To download the entire article, click here.
Our Thoughts:
Diagnosing LSS can be difficult, but taking into consideration these 10 predicting factors and calculating an overall risk score can be very useful to help determine if you are on the right track. To make this information easier to use in practice, ignitephysio has created a handout so you can print and post it in your clinic for reference.
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