Tandem spinal stenosis: clinical pattern, diagnosis and surgical tactics

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to present an up-to-date look at the features of diagnosis and treatment of tandem spinal stenosis. Tandem spinal stenosis is a degenerative narrowing of the spinal canal of two or more parts of the spine column. Diagnosis of the one-level degenerative spinal stenosis is commonly quite easy in the practice of a spinal surgeons, while the diagnosis of tandem spinal stenosis is often difficult. The clinical presentation of tandem spinal stenosis presents a constellation of different symptoms and often cause late diagnosis. Data on the prevalence of tandem spinal stenosis are very variable, and the etiology cannot be fully studied. Thereby, comprehensive assessments of the symptoms and imaging provide assistance with the accurate and timely diagnosis. The choice of surgical method should consider possibility of staged decompression of each stenotic levels with priority for proximal parts of spine column.