Objective. To investigate the biomechanical aspects of etiology

pathology

clinical manifestation

diagnosis and surgical treatment of the lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods’ A series of biomechanical methods

such as three-dimensional finite element models. three-dimensional kinematic measurement

cadeveric evaluation

and imaging assessment was applied to correlate lumbar biomechanics and lumbar spinal stenosis. Surgery of lumbar spinal stenosis has been improved. Results. The stresses significantly concentrate on the posterolateral part of the annulus fibrosus of disc

the posterior surface of vertebral body

the pedicle

the interarticularis and the facet joints. This trend is intensified by disc degeneration and lumbar backward extension. Posterior element resection has a definite effect upon the biomechanical behavior of lumbar vertebrae. The improved operations proved satis- factory. Conclusion. Stress concentration in the lumbar vertebrae is of importance to the etiology of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis

and disc degeneration is the initial key of this process. Then these will be aggravated by backward extension. Functional radiography and myelography are of assistance to the diagnosis o f the lumbar spinal stenosis. For the surgical treatment of the lumbar spinal stenosis

destruction of the posterior element should be avoid as far as possible based upon the thorough decompression. Maintaining the lumbar spine in flexion by fusion after decompression has been proved a useful method. When developmental spinal stenosis is combined with disc herniation

discectomy through laminotomy is recommend for decompression.