Spinal stenosis

Loss of bowel or bladder continence, weakness or paralysis of foot dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, loss of peri-anal and vaginal sensation.

Loss of lower extremity motor function, typically seen as foot dorsiflexion weakness or foot-drop, may appear suddenly and not be associated with pain.

Loss of muscle mass, de-conditioning, pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis, and decubitus ulcer are all associated with long-standing immobility.

Progression of spondylolisthesis can occur after decompression, although it may also occur without the procedure.[87]Tuite GF, Doran SE, Stern JD, et al. Outcome after laminectomy for lumbar spinal stenosis. Part II: Radiographic changes and clinical correlations. J Neurosurg. 1994 Nov;81(5):707-15. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7931616?tool=bestpractice.com Symptomatic slippage may be treated by fusion, possibly in conjunction with spinal instrumentation.