What is a Laminectomy?
A laminectomy, also known as decompression surgery, is a surgical procedure to relieve pressure on the nerve roots by removing the lamina, the flattened segments at the back of the vertebral arch. The vertebral arch is the ring of bone that joins the vertebral body to surround the spinal cord. This pressure is most commonly caused by bony overgrowths within the spinal canal, which can occur in people who have arthritis in their spines. These overgrowths are sometimes referred to as bone spurs, but they’re a normal side effect of the aging process in some people.
Minimally Invasive Laminectomy
A minimally invasive laminectomy involves removing a portion of the lamina; a thin piece of bone located at the back of each vertebral body that covers and protects the spinal canal. A micro-laminectomy may include removing bony overgrowths (ie, osteophytes) and ligament tissue compressing spinal nerves at one or more levels of the spine.
How is this different form a Laminotomy?
A laminotomy removes only a portion of the lamina, typically carving a hole just big enough to relieve the pressure in a particular spot. A laminotomy can can be performed in both the cervical (neck) as well as the lumbar spine.