Daniel J. Mazanec, MD Director, Spine Center, Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Disease, The Cleveland Clinic
Vinod K. Podichetty, MD Coordinator - Research Studies, Spine Center, Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Disease, The Cleveland Clinic
Augusto Hsia, MD Spine Center, Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Disease, The Cleveland Clinic
Address: Daniel J. Mazanec, MD, Spine Center, C21, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195; e-mail mazaned@ccf.org
This paper discusses therapies that are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the use under discussion.
ABSTRACTAlthough surgery is widely viewed as the definitive therapy for lumbar spinal stenosis, no randomized trials have compared surgical vs medical treatment. One study found that 60% of surgically treated patients improved, compared with 30% of those treated nonsurgically. We believe an initial nonsurgical approach is advisable for most patients.
