A laminotomy is a surgical procedure that removes part of the lamina in order to decompress the nerves. The lamina are the arch of bone that protects your spinal canal. In spinal stenosis cases where the spinal canal starts to narrow, the lamina ends up compressing the spinal nerves. By partially removing the lamina, this frees up enough space to prevent nerve compression.
Did You Know?
There are four types of laminotomy, all named for the region of the spinal cord that they are performed on. These include: cervical laminotomy, thoracic laminotomy, lumbar laminotomy, and sacral laminotomy. However, the most common are cervical and lumbar.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Am I a candidate for a laminotomy?
You may be a candidate for a laminotomy if you have spinal stenosis that is compressing the nerves and is causing:
Radiating pain
Numbness or tingling
Weakness
Bowel or bladder problems
An inability to walk long distances
To find out if a laminotomy is right for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Pranay Patel at one of our South Bay, Los Angeles, Long Beach, or Manhattan Beach locations.
What can I expect when having a laminotomy at Ocean Spine with Dr. Pranay Patel?
You can expect your laminotomy to be performed at a hospital or surgical center under general anesthesia. During the procedure, a portion of the lamina will be removed to relieve pressure on the surrounding nerves. There are two different approaches that may be used, including:
- Microlaminotomy is a minimally invasive technique that uses an arthroscope and special tools to complete the procedure through multiple tiny incisions. This approach has a faster recovery time and causes less postoperative pain.
- Open surgery is when your surgeon makes a large incision so they can have direct access to the treatment area. Although it takes longer to recover from open surgery and it can cause more postoperative discomfort, there are certain cases where open surgery is the better choice.
What can I expect after having a laminotomy?
After your surgery, you will wake up in recovery where you will be monitored as the effects of the anesthesia wear off. If your procedure was performed as an outpatient procedure, then you will