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Two recent studies shed light on options for treating patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.
In a randomized trial, investigators compared surgical decompression versus a formal physical therapy (PT) program in 169 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication; all patients were considered candidates for surgical decompression and had consented to surgery. Intent-to-treat and sensitivity analyses revealed no significant differences in physical function (primary outcome) or in pain, disability, symptoms, or expectations (secondary outcomes) between the surgery and PT groups at any point during 2-year follow-up. Although 57% of patients assigned to PT crossed over to surgery during follow-up, the researchers state that statis…