Sarcopenia and Outcomes of Neuroplasty in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

The Influence of Sarcopenia on Outcomes of Neuroplasty in Patients With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: a Prospective Observational Study

The aim of the present study is to find out the influence of sarcopenia on outcomes of neuroplasty in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Frailty is an aging-related syndrome of physiological decline and correlated with sarcopenia. Furthermore, lumbar spinal stenosis is a common disease in the old population and a neuroplasty is widely used to treat these patients. We postulate that the sarcopenia may be associated with the outcome of neuroplasty in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis, and there is no study about this topic as far as we know.

To evaluate this association, we will use the criteria for sarcopenia which is made by Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia in 2019 in this study. We will compare the outcome of neuroplasty in patients with sarcopenia and without sarcopenia using several tools such as numeric rating scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and global perceived effect (GPE) score up to 6 months after the procedure.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Presence of lumbar spinal stenosis on MRI
• 65 ≤ age <79
• Neurogenic claudication due to spinal stenosis
• Chronic pain above than 3 months despite conservative therapies
• Scheduled for neuroplasty with Racz catheter

Exclusion Criteria:

• Allergy to local anesthetics, contrast dye, or steroid
• Use of anticoagulants or antiplatelet medication
• Coagulopathy or Infection at the insertion site
• Neurological or psychiatric disorders
• Hemodynamic instability due to other underlying disorders
• Prior spine instrumentation
• Vascular claudication
• Refusal to participate in the study