A Prospective Study on Gait Impairment in Patients With Symptomatic Lumbar Canal Stenosis and Impact of Surgical Intervention on Gait Function

Prospective observational cohort study. To analyze the effect of decompression surgery on gait characteristics in patients with stenosis. Also, to test the hypothesis that patient-reported functional outcomes and gait parameters (spatiotemporal, kinetic, and kinematic measures) will improve postoperatively and achieve normal values when compared with matched healthy controls. Lumbar spinal stenosis is one of the leading causes of disability among elderly population. Gait impairment is one of the primary symptoms of degenerative conditions involving lumbar spine. Research suggests that decompressive surgery can positively influence gait parameters in patients with spinal stenosis. Studies have shown improvements in walking speed, stride length, and balance post-surgery. Thirty-two patients with single-level lumbar stenosis and 32 healthy volunteers were prospectively recruited. All patients underwent gait analysis preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively as per standard protocol. Spatiotemporal, kinematic, and kinetic parameters were analyzed. Stepwise linear regression models were used to detect significant relationships between changes in functional score (Visual Analogue Scale/Oswestry Disability Index) and gait parameters. Significant improvement was noted in functional scores( P <0.05) 6 months post-surgery. Spatiotemporal (swing phase, mean velocity, cadence, stride length, step length, and step width) and kinetic parameters (hip, knee, and ankle power) were significantly better after surgery, reaching normal levels. Kinematic parameters significantly improved after surgery but did not reach normal levels when compared with controls. A significant correlation was found between changes in functional scores with changes in certain kinematic parameters (knee-power, ankle plantarflexion, swing time, peak ankle dorsiflexion in swing, peak-hip, and knee flexor moment). Decompression surgery in lumbar stenosis produces improvement in gait parameters, pain scores, and functional outcomes that significantly improve gait posture and speed.