Pattern of degenerative spinal canal stenosis in south of iraq : a review of 1699 cases

Abstract EN

Background context: Both systemic hypertension and degenerative spinal canal stenosis are common diseases in the population, however, the cross relationship had not been reported. Purpose: to determine the incidence of systemic hypertension among patients with degenerative spinal canal stenosis and to describe the pattern of this degenerative spinal canal stenosis in south of Iraq.

Study design: Retrospective and prospective review.

Patient sample: A total of 1699 persons (644 females and 1055 males) whom their blood pressure measured.

A326 patients had degenerative spinal canal stenosis and 1373 not had spinal stenosis {599 patients had prolapsed intervertebral disc prolapse operated on(control no.1 group) and 774 persons were normal (control no.2 group)}.

Outcome measure: Postoperative blood pressure monitoring. Methods: systemic blood pressure measurement were reviewed for all of the 1699 persons with postoperative follow up of their blood pressure, also the level of pathology was recorded.

Results: systemic hypertension was present in 46% of patients with degenerative spinal canal stenosis, 18.1% of patients with intervertebral disc prolapse (control no.1) and in 17.4% of normal persons (control no.2).

Postoperatively, hypertension resolved spontaneously or easily controlled with less number and lower doses of antihypertensive drugs. Conclusion: systemic hypertension highly prevalent among patients with spinal stenosis and disappear or becomes lower after operative treatment.