Etiological Analysis and Clinical Therapy of Senile Chronic Pain of Waist and Leg

ObjectiveTo explore the common etiological factors and therapy of senile chronic pain of waist and leg. Methods162 cases of senile chronic pain of waist and leg, between 1997.1 to 2000.12, were studied, including 92 cases of lumbar disc herniation, 73 cases of lumbar spinal stenosis(63 of them companied by lumbar disc herniation), 37 cases of lumbar spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis and 23 cases of osteoporosis. Results47 cases discharged after conservative therapy,while 18 of them relapsed. 115 cases received operation, including 75 cases of enlarged fenestration or half vertebral lamina resection with extirpation of nucleus pulposus, 9 cases of total vertebral lamina resection with extirpation of nucleus pulposus, 8 cases of simple bone replantation on spondylolysis and 23 cases of intemal fixation. 97 cases of operation received follow-up(average 18 months), finding that symptoms disappeared or moderated significantly in 65 cases, moderated partly in 29 cases and no amelioration in 3 cases. ConclusionSpine degeneration is the main cause leading to senile chronic pain of waist and leg, conservative therapy should be first and then operation may be regarded if the results were bad.