What are the most common causes of spinal stenosis?
A variety of conditions can cause spinal stenosis.
It may result from minor developmental anatomic changes in the diameter of the spinal canal (e.g., shorter than normal pedicles, thickened lamina).
These conditions are rarely symptomatic but may predispose to degenerative changes that do become symptomatic.
Such changes include degeneration of facets posteriorly and the disc anteriorly. Osteophyte formation may occur, thus narrowing both the nerve root and central canals.
Degeneration of the intravertebral disc may also cause narrowing of the nerve root and central canals.
Other causes of spinal stenosis include degenerative spondylolisthesis and postoperative spinal stenosis.