What is a Laminectomy?
A Laminectomy is a surgery that removes the lamina in order to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves. There can be several reasons a Laminectomy surgery may be needed such as Spinal Stenosis, Herniated Discs, or Spinal Injuries. This is considered a major surgery and the last resort if conservative methods of treatment doesn’t work. Sometimes a bony growth called Bone Spurs can also be a reason why a Laminectomy may be needed.
Who should get a Laminectomy?
- Spinal Stenosis: This is one of the most common reasons for a laminectomy. Spinal stenosis refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal, which can compress the spinal cord and nerve roots, causing pain, numbness, or weakness, typically in the legs.
- Herniated Disc: If other treatments for a herniated disc are ineffective, a laminectomy can be performed to remove or relieve pressure on the pinched nerve.
- Symptomatic Relief: Patients suffering from chronic back or leg pain due to nerve compression can experience significant relief after a laminectomy. This relief can enhance mobility and improve the overall quality of life.
- Conservative Treatments Not Effective: If conservative treatments like physical therapy, medications, or injections don’t bring relief, surgery like laminectomy may be recommended.
- Tumors: In cases where there are tumors pressing against the spinal cord, a laminectomy can be performed to remove them.
- Spondylolisthesis: This condition, where one vertebra slips over the one below it, may compress the nerve roots or spinal cord. A laminectomy can alleviate this compression.
- Improved Mobility: By alleviating nerve or spinal cord pressure, patients often find they can move more easily and comfortably post-surgery.
- Safety and Efficacy: While any surgery comes with risks, laminectomy has a long history of being a well-understood and frequently performed procedure with a good success rate.
In summary, if someone is experiencing chronic back or leg pain due to spinal conditions that compress the nerve roots or spinal cord, a laminectomy may offer significant relief and improve their quality of life. As with any surgery, the decision to undergo a laminectomy should be made in consultation with a qualified spine surgeon or neurosurgeon, who can provide a comprehensive evaluation and recommend the best treatment options.
How is a Laminectomy Surgery Done in Florida?
At Florida Surgery Consultants, we perform Laminectomy surgeries often. Our Neurosurgeons Dr. Jonathan Hall and Dr. Donna Saatman are experts when it comes to performing Laminectomy surgeries. In total, they have over 70+ years of performing Laminectomies.
In the past, this surgery was done in a hospital and required an overnight stay. Today, our Neurosurgeons perform a Laminectomy in an outpatient surgery center in located in Tampa, Florida. This means that there is no need for an overnight stay. Generally, the procedure takes a little over an hour.
First, general anesthesia will be administered. Once you are under the surgeon will make an incision where the lamina needs to be removed. The surgeon will then spread your muscles and then proceed with a surgical device to remove the lamina. If a herniated disc needs to be removed the surgeon will also remove the herniated disc by performing a discectomy. If the spine needs to be stabilized the surgeon may also perform a spinal fusion.
There are many different variables when it comes to getting a Laminectomy surgery. Every single case is different depending on the cause of the patient’s chronic back pain.
What happens after a Laminectomy
After your Laminectomy surgery, you will be moved into the recovery room where one of the nurses will monitor your heart rate and check on the movement of your arms and legs. The surgeon may prescribe some medication in order the help with the pain. Physical Therapy will also be recommend in order to have a faster and better recovery process. Before you are released, the nurse will also schedule a post operative appointment usually a few weeks after your surgery in order to check on your recovery process and also see how the incision is healed.
Returning to work will depend primarily on how much your job requires you to perform physical activity. If there is not much physical activity needed and you work at a desk job you can return to work in a few weeks. If a spinal fusion was performed, the recovery process will be longer. The spinal fusion has to fully be fused together before you can start going back to work.
Success Rate of Laminectomy Surgery
The overall success rate of Laminectomy surgeries are high. It is said that almost 90% of the patients who have a Laminectomy surgery get pain relief. The goal of the Laminectomy surgery is to provide pain relief due to the spinal nerves being compressed. The long term success of a Laminectomy after 10 years is over 75%. As the last resort to treating a patient’s chronic back pain. A Laminectomy is proven to help many patients.
