• OBJECTIVE
    • We performed a retrospective cohort study to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for asymptomatic spondylotic cervical spinal stenosis (ASCSS) in the setting of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).
  • METHODS
    • A total of 114 patients with a diagnosis of LSS without cervical myelopathy and radiculopathy were grouped into ASCSS and non-ASCSS groups. The medical data and radiological parameters, including age, sex, body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index, symptom duration, redundant nerve roots, dural sac cross-sectional area (DCSA), facet joint angle, lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), pelvic incidence (PI), Torg-Pavlov ratio, and lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, were analyzed. The lumbar stenosis index and cervical stenosis index of the 114 patients were also analyzed.
  • RESULTS
    • ASCSS occurred in 70 of the 114 patients with LSS (61.4%). The two groups showed significant differences in symptom duration, redundant nerve roots, LLA, DCSA, and PI. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, an LLA >35.85° (P < 0.001) and a DCSA <84.50 mm2 (P = 0.003) were independently associated with ASCSS. The multi-index receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the area under the curve for predicted probability was 0.805 (P < 0.001). Linear regression analysis revealed that cervical stenosis index significantly and positively correlated with the lumbar stenosis index (r = 0.430; P < 0.001).
  • CONCLUSIONS
    • Our findings suggest that an LLA >35.85° and a DCSA <84.50 mm2 are risk factors for the development of ASCSS. For LSS patients with an enlarged LLA and reduced DSCA, a whole spinal magnetic resonance imaging examination should be performed.