Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis

Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis is a type of spinal canal stenosis and has different epidemiology with less severe degenerative change compared to acquired/degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. 

Epidemiology

Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis tends to affect patients at a younger age (30-50 years old) than lumbar spinal stenosis from degenerative or acquired changes. 

Pathology

Congenital lumbar spinal stenosis usually results from congenitally shortened pedicles. The etiology in most cases is unknown.

Associations

• achondroplasia ²

Radiographic features

Central canal narrowing is the pertinent feature - various values have been proposed (AP mid-sagittal diameter <10-17 mm) but there is no consensus definition ^2,3.

Features of degenerative disc disease and facet joint arthropathy are often present but mild in severity. Unlike degenerative spinal stenosis, congenital lumbar spinal stenosis is distributed throughout the lumbar spine ².