Navigating Pharmacotherapy for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Narrative Review Spanning the Pathomechanisms of Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy to Polypharmacy in Older Adults

Key Points

• Examine pharmacotherapy methods for managing lumbar spinal stenosis and the challenges posed by polypharmacy in older adults.
• Conducted a narrative review of current literature on lumbar spinal stenosis treatments.
• Focused on pharmacological strategies and their implications for older adults.
• Analyzed the relationship between ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and treatment outcomes.
• Pharmacotherapy primarily addresses symptoms rather than the underlying causes of lumbar spinal stenosis.
• Older adults frequently experience complications from polypharmacy, including adverse medication effects.
• Conservative management remains essential for initial treatment in this demographic.