The Role of Calcitonin in Acquired Lumbar Canal Stenosis
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background: Lumbar spinal stenosis is being diagnosed increasingly nowadays as advanced imaging studies become more widely available and clinicians become more familiar with its presentation. It is the most common reason for spine surgery in individuals over 65 years of age. Non-operative approaches have not been well studied and limited primarily to physical therapy exercises.
Objectives: To assess the role of salmon calcitonin in the treatment of acquired lumbar canal stenosis as a non-operative modality.
Methods: A prospective study conducted by administering salmon calcitonin 100 IU every other day for 4 weeks to 125 patients who were diagnosed as having acquired lumbar canal stenosis. Comfortable walking distance and the Oswestry disability index were measured before starting the treatment and regularly during treatment course then the results were recorded accordingly.
Results: Age range was18-78 years; mean ±SD (50±13.6). Male: female ratio about 1:2; follow up was from 4-250 weeks; mean ±SD (30.5±57). Walking distance before treatment was 30-250 meter; mean ±SD (72.4±34.3), after treatment increased to 500-4000 meter; mean ±SD (1831.3±795.7) and Oswestry disability index was 35-93 mean ±SD (67.9±15.29) before treatment and decreased to 2-45 mean ±SD (14.9 ±10.97).
Conclusions: calcitonin had beneficial effects on patients with acquired lumbar canal stenosis.
Copyright (c) 2015 Iraqi Medical Journal

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