Necessity of Fusion Following Decompression Surgery in Patients With Single-level Lumbar Stenosis

This study looks at whether spinal decompression surgery (laminectomy) alone is as effective as decompression plus spinal fusion for treating lumbar spinal stenosis at a single level. The goal is to find out if adding fusion — a more complex and costly procedure — is always necessary. You may be eligible if: - You are between 45 and 75 years old - You have severe single-level lumbar stenosis confirmed by MRI (at L2-L3, L3-L4, L4-L5, or L5-S1) - You have symptoms such as leg pain with walking (claudication) or nerve pain (radiculopathy) - Conservative treatment has not helped after 3 months - You are willing to attend follow-up appointments for 2 years You may NOT be eligible if: - You have spondylolisthesis (vertebral slippage) greater than 3 mm - You have spinal instability - You have severe spinal stenosis at 2 or more levels - You have had previous spinal surgery - You have low bone density (below 100 HU) - You have severe sagittal imbalance (spinal curvature) - Your anesthesia risk is rated ASA 4 or 5 Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.