Laminectomy

What Is a Laminectomy?
A laminectomy is a type of back surgery used
to relieve compression on the spinal cord.
During the procedure, your doctor will remove
the lamina. The lamina is part of the bone that
forms the vertebral arch in the spine. Your
doctor will also remove bone spurs. These
structures can put pressure on the spinal cord
or nerve roots. This can cause:
 mild to severe back pain
 numbness or weakness in the legs
 difficulty walking
 difficulty controlling bladder or bowel
movements
A laminectomy is only used if your symptoms
interfere with daily life. It’s performed when
less invasive treatments have failed.
This surgery is also called:
  lumbar laminectomy
 cervical laminectomy
 decompressive laminectomy

Why Is a Laminectomy Performed?

A laminectomy is often done to relieve the
effects of spinal stenosis. In this condition,
your spinal column narrows and puts pressure
on the spinal cord or nerves. Spinal stenosis
may be caused by:
 shrinking of the discs of the spine and
swelling of the bones and ligaments, which
both occur with aging
 arthritis of the spine, which is more
common in older adults
 a congenital defect, or defect present at
birth, such as abnormal growth of the
spine
 Paget’s disease of the bones, which is a
condition in which bones grow improperly
 achondroplasia, which is a type of
dwarfism
 a tumor in the spine
  a traumatic injury
 a herniated or slipped disc

How Do I Prepare for a Laminectomy?

Tell your doctor if you:
 take any prescription or over-the-counter
drugs, vitamins, or supplements
 are pregnant or think you may be pregnant
 are sensitive or allergic to any
medications, anesthetic agents, tape, or
latex
Before the surgery, your doctor may ask you
to:
 stop taking blood thinners, such as aspirin
 stop smoking if you’re a smoker
 not eat or drink anything after midnight the
evening before the surgery
You should arrange for someone to pick you
up and take you home after the surgery. You
may also need to arrange for someone to help
you around the house while you heal.
How Is a Laminectomy Performed?
A laminectomy is performed while you’re
under anesthesia. You’ll be asleep during the
procedure if you have general anesthesia or
you’ll be awake if you have spinal anesthesia.
Either way, you will feel no pain during the
procedure. Your anesthesiologist will monitor
you throughout the surgery.
During the surgery, your surgeon will:
1. clean the skin over the surgical site
with an antiseptic solution to help prevent
a bacterial infection
2. make a small incision, or cut, in the
middle of your back or neck
3. move your skin, muscles, and
ligaments to the side to get a better view
4. remove part or all of the lamina bones
on your spine
5. remove bone spurs or small disk
fragments
6. close the incision with stitches
7. cover the incision with sterile bandages
During the procedure, your surgeon may also
perform a spinal fusion, in which two or more
bones are connected in the back to better
stabilize the spine. Your surgeon may also
perform a foraminotomy to widen the area
where the nerve roots go through the spine.
A laminectomy usually takes one to three
hours.

What Are the Risks of Laminectomy?

The risks of spine surgery include:
 damage to a spinal nerve
 unsuccessful treatment, which can lead to
pain that persists after surgery
 a return of back pain, particularly after
spinal fusion
 an infection in the surgical site or vertebral
bones
 a cerebrospinal fluid leak because of a tear
of the dura mater, which is the membrane
that surrounds the spinal cord
The general risks of surgery include:
 a blood clot in the legs, which can lead to a
pulmonary embolism
 breathing difficulties
 an infection
 blood loss
 a heart attack
 a stroke
 a reaction to medication

What Happens After a Laminectomy?

When you wake up after surgery, your doctor
will probably ask you to get up and walk
around a bit (unless you had a spinal fusion).
You’ll probably stay in the hospital for one to
three days, but this procedure can sometimes
be done on an outpatient basis.
While you’re recovering, you should:
 avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting
 be careful when climbing stairs
  gradually increase your activities, such as
walking
 schedule and go to all follow-up
appointments
While showering, you shouldn’t scrub over the
incision site. Don’t apply any lotions or
creams near the incision. Avoid bathtubs, hot
tubs, and swimming pools until your doctor
says otherwise. These can all increase your
risk of infection.
Your doctor will give you specific instructions
on how to take care of your wound.
Call your doctor immediately if you have any
of the following:
 swelling on or near the incision site
 draining, heat, or redness at the incision
site
 difficulty breathing
 chest pain
 a fever of 100ºF or higher
 tenderness or swelling in the legs
 difficulty urinating
 a loss of bowel or urinary control