Overview

Laminectomy is a surgical process involving removing a part of the vertebral bone called the lamina. The bony arch at the back of each vertebra forms the protective covering of the spinal canal. This procedure helps to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. By removing a portion of the lamina, surgeons create more space within the spinal canal, alleviating compression on the nerves and spinal cord. Laminectomy is often performed to treat conditions like spinal stenosis, herniated discs, or tumours that cause pain, weakness, or numbness in the back and legs. This is also done to access tumor and infection within the spinal canal.

Reasons for Laminectomy

Mentioned below are the reasons that help to get rid of the spine and lower back issues with the help of Laminectomy:

- Herniated Disk- When a disc in the spine becomes ruptured or herniated, the inner gel-like material can jut out, pressing against the spinal cord or nerves. A laminectomy procedure is recommended to remove the portion of the lamina and provide more space for the herniated disc to alleviate the pressure. This is also done to access and remove herniated disc.
- Failed Medicinal Treatment- If an individual affected by spinal or lower back issues cannot recover due to medicines, the doctor may suggest surgery for some patients. It immediately helps to eliminate the pain and multiple other issues caused due to the disorder. If medicines consumed for the purpose aren't able to work, surgery is one of the best options according to the scenario.
- Muscle Weakness- Muscle weakness in limbs can occur due compression of spinal cord and/or nerves. The compression must be relieved. Thus, muscle weakness and numbness are also one of the biggest reasons to get the surgery done. The surgery helps to alleviate muscle pain, and an individual unable to walk or stand properly (owing to muscle weakness) can perform such activities post-surgery.

Complications of Laminectomy

Though vertebrae surgery is a reliever of back pain and weakness, there are also many Laminectomy complications, such as:

- Blood Clots
- Bleeding 
- Infection
- Nerve Injury
- Spinal Instability

Procedure of Laminectomy

Mentioned below are the steps that are followed to perform the surgery to get rid of the back pain issues:

The operation is usually done under general anesthesia. However, in exceptional situations, it can be done under local anesthesia too.
The individual is given local anaesthesia to allow the surgeons to perform the procedure and make the patient pain-free after operation.
Then the surgeon makes an incision in the lower back to reach the spine easily.
Then the part of the bone causing pain in the lower back is removed cautiously for lowering the tension building up in the spinal cord.
The procedure might be completed after 2 hours or more, depending on the surgery complication.

Post-Surgery Care

The surgery helps to get rid of the pain caused in the back due to an injury or any other back issue. Though the surgery is a solution, one also needs to take care of certain steps post-surgery to avoid further issues:

- Timely consumption of medicines for pain management
- Taking care of the incision area
- Physical therapy to avoid any circumstances causing pain
- Activity modification to avoid harsh activities worsening the pain
- Use of compression stockings

Post-Surgery Issues

Mentioned below are some of the Laminectomy complications that can occur after the surgery making the individual uncomfortable: Swelling- Swelling is a complication of the surgery. The body begins the process of self-healing, accumulating cells in the area of the surgery. One might observe swelling in the area in need of recovery. It is also known as the first step of healing post-surgery. Pain in the Incision Area- The patient can experience pain in the incision area due to damage caused in the blood vessels and tissues. The condition might also lead to numbness in the area or tingling pain. If the situation worsens, it is advised to contact the doctor to know the exact cause and steps to follow to avoid the situation. Breathing Issues- An individual operated for a spine injury might also face breathing disorders. It happens due to an obstruction in the signals sent by the brain through the spinal cord for breathing. In case such scenarios are observed, it is advised to consult a doctor rather than neglect the issue and worsen the symptoms.

When to Consult a Doctor

You can also get in touch with the expert Ortho doctors at Narayana Healthcare based in your city to get immediate attention and medical support during injuries, health disorders or any other health concern.

Conclusion

Laminectomy is a form of spinal surgery helpful to recover from the spine or lower back pain in which a part of the vertebral bone, the lamina, is removed. The individual who has undergone this operation should follow a good guide of post-surgery care given by the doctor.

FAQs

Q. What is Laminectomy? A. Laminectomy is a spinal surgery where the laminae are removed for various purpose ranging from relieving pressure on nerves and spinal cord to access the contents of spinal canal.

Q. What are the benefits of Laminectomy? A. Spinal surgery helps to get rid of the pain, weakness and numbness of limbs due pressure on spinal cord and/or nerves. An individual unable to walk or stand properly can also be relieved from such issues after a successful surgery.