This is a very effective study in cases of lateral recess stenosis. It is also necessary for patients in which MRI is contraindicated, such as those with implanted pacemakers. Red flags
Fever
Nocturnal pain
Gait disturbance
Structural deformity
Unexplained weight loss
Previous carcinoma
Severe pain upon lying down
Recent trauma with suspicious fracture
Presence of severe or progressive neurologic deficit

Treatments
Treatment options are either surgical or non-surgical. Overall evidence is inconclusive whether non-surgical or surgical treatment is the better for lumbar spinal stenosis. Non-surgical treatments
The effectiveness of non-surgical treatments is unclear as they have not been well studied. Education about the course of the condition and how to relieve symptoms
Medicines to relieve pain and inflammation, such as acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Exercise, to maintain or achieve overall good health, aerobic exercise, such as riding a stationary bicycle, which allows for a forward lean, walking, or swimming can relieve symptoms
Weight loss, to relieve symptoms and slow progression of the stenosis
Physical therapy to support self-care. Also may give instructs on stretching and strength exercises that may lead to a decrease in pain and other symptoms. Lumbar epidural steroid or anesthetic injections have low quality evidence to support their use. Surgery
Lumbar decompressive laminectomy: This involves removing the roof of bone overlying the spinal canal and thickened ligaments in order to decompress the nerves and sac of nerves. 70-90% of people have good results. Interlaminar implant:  This is a non-fusion U-shaped device that is placed between two bones in the lower back that maintains motion in the spine and keeps the spine stable after a lumbar decompressive surgery.
The U-shaped device maintains height between the bones in the spine so nerves can exit freely and extend to lower extremities. Surgery for cervical myelopathy is either conducted from the front or from the back, depending on several factors such as where the compression occurs and how the cervical spine is aligned. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: A surgical treatment of nerve root or spinal cord compression by decompressing the spinal cord and nerve roots of the cervical spine with a discectomy in order to stabilize the corresponding vertebrae. Posterior approaches seek to generate space around the spinal cord by removing parts of the posterior elements of the spine. Techniques include laminectomy, laminectomy and fusion, and laminoplasty.Decompression plus fusion appears no better than decompression alone, while spinal spacers appears better than decompression plus fusion but not better than decompression alone. No differences were found in the type of decompression. Epidemiology
The NAMCS data shows the incidence in the U.S. population to be 3.9% of 29,964,894 visits for mechanical back problems. The Longitudinal Framingham Heart Study found 1% of men and 1.5% of women had vertebral slippage at a mean age of 54. Over the next 25 years, 11% of men and 25% of women developed degenerative vertebral slippage. Research
A RCT is being conducted in Sweden, to compare surgery versus non-surgical treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis. See also
Spinal cord compression

References
External links
"Spinal Stenosis". PubMed Health. National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine. 25 May 2010. Archived from the original on 8 February 2011.