Laminectomy Treatment

Back pain interfering with the day to day activities require treatment, and when all the other methods have not worked, then surgery is the best choice. Laminectomy or decompression surgery is a common type of back surgery which removes the back portion of one or more spinal bone(vertebrae). It is performed when there is bone growth within the spinal canal that can narrow the spaces available in the spinal cord and nerves. This pressure leads to pain, weakness or numbness that radiates in the arms or legs.

It is recommended when:

• All the conservative measures like medication, physical therapy or injections have failed

• Patients have muscle weakness or numbness that makes standing and walking difficult for them

• Patients experiences loss of bowel or bladder control

Procedure

Laminectomies are performed under general anesthesia and mechanical anesthesia. The method takes approximate 1-3 years. The surgery involves creating space by removing the lamina, the back of the vertebra that covers the spinal canal. It enlarges the spinal canal to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.

Laminectomy is mostly a general procedure, but surgery can have potential complications like bleeding, blood clots, nerve injury spinal fluid leak or infection.