Causes Of Neural Foraminal Stenosis

Stenosis is defined as a narrowing in the spine. There are two types: central stenosis and neural foraminal stenosis. Central stenosis refers to narrowing of the spinal canal that holds the spinal cord, and neural foraminal stenosis involves narrowing of the hole the spinal nerves transverse when they exit the spine. This narrowing can be caused by numerous conditions and is often multifactorial. The neural canal is formed by a vertebra above and below and the disc between them. It is naturally comprised of bone, discal material, ligaments, as well as the exiting nerve and blood vessels. Enlargement of any of these structures, additional material in the canal, and reduction of the canal size by encroaching entities all contribute to neural foraminal stenosis.