Lumbar spine decompression for spinal canal stenosis: Three meta-analyses comparing surgical procedures with nonsurgical treatment showed similar effects for operative and nonoperative interventions. To date, no randomized, controlled trial has compared lumbar spinal decompression with no treatment or placebo. Only a single randomized, controlled trial compared segmental decompression with conservative treatment. Both treatment groups showed improvement during follow-up, with no difference in walking ability. 

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