What Is a Laminotomy?

A laminotomy is a surgical procedure intended to relieve pain caused by problems with the vertebra. Various conditions, such as arthritis in the spine and spinal stenosis can cause changes in the vertebra. Although the procedure can be performed on the cervical area of the spine, it is most commonly done in the lumbar region.

Facts

• The lamina is a spine bone that can become enlarged due to various spinal conditions. The bone growth puts pressure on the surrounding nerves and compresses them. This can cause numbness and pain in the back, legs or neck, if the problem is in the cervical region of the spine. A laminotomy removes part of the lamina, which relieves the pressure on the nerves and may alleviate pain.

Considerations

• Laminectomy and laminotomy may sometime be confused. Although they are similar, a laminectomy involves removing all the lamina. During a laminotomy only a portion of the bone is removed. According to Oregon Health and Science University, a laminotomy has advantages and is less likely to damage the muscles around the bones in the spine. Because only a small portion of the lamina is removed, smaller incisions are needed than in laminectomy.

Procedure

• The procedure can be done traditionally with general anesthesia or endoscopically, which is considered less invasive. In the tradition open back surgery, the incisions need to be larger than in endoscopic surgery. If the endoscopic approach is used, tubes are threaded into the incisions and a camera is inserted into a tube to view the nerve root. In either type of surgery a small hole may be made in the lamina and a small portion of the bone is removed. The incisions are then stitched.

Risks

• According to the Mayo Clinic the risks for a laminotomy are similar to those of a laminectomy. Risks include nerve root damage. Another possible complication is leaking cerebrospinal fluid. Infection can occur, as well as excess bleeding. Risks associated with general anesthesia include an allergic reaction to the anesthesia.

Recovery

• If the procedure was performed with an endoscope, a patient may be discharged from hospital care the same day as the operation. Medication will help control pain. The traditional surgery may require a two-day hospital stay. Doctors usually encourage patients to walk as soon as possible after surgery.
  If the laminotomy was done without an endoscope and large incisions were made in the back, the patient should avoid lifting and twisting for about six weeks to allow for incision to heal. The success rate varies, depending on what condition is being treated. For example, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, people who have mostly leg pain due to pressure on the nerves have about a 90 percent success rate.