Return Motion To Your Spine

A Laminectomy is one of the most common back surgeries. Also known as decompression surgery, it is done to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerve roots. Bony overgrowths can narrow the space available in your spinal cord and nerves. During this procedure, the surgeon removes a portion of one or more vertebrae (called the lamina), bone spurs, disk fragments and other soft tissue. The lamina functions is a protective coating over the spinal canal. They protect the nerve roots that branch off of the spinal cord, as well as the nerve roots as they exit the spine. Removing all or part of the lamina can give the affected nerve root more space and a better healing environment.

Laminectomy is used:

• When more-conservative treatments — such as medication and physical therapy — have failed to relieve symptoms
• When symptoms are severe or worsening dramatically
• If you experience muscle weakness or numbness that makes standing or walking difficult
• If you experience loss of bowel or bladder control
• Most commonly performed to treat Spinal Stenosis, spine-related injuries, herniated discs, or tumors
• To reduce pressure on nerve roots which relieves pain and allows you to resume normal daily activities

In some cases, laminectomy may be necessary as part of surgery to treat a herniated spinal disk. Your surgeon may need to remove part of the lamina to gain access to the damaged disk.

Laminectomy is a generally safe procedure. Most reports favor a laminectomy as an effective treatment with good results, though symptoms may return over time.