Sometimes known as an open decompression procedure, the Lumbar Laminectomy is a surgical method designed to treat patients suffering from spinal stenosis – the narrowing of the spinal canal. One of the most common conditions affecting the spinal column, spinal stenosis causes compression of the spinal cord and surrounding nerves – often leaving patients in immense pain. The compression can be caused by a number of different factors, but as we are referring to a laminectomy, the compression of the spinal cord is caused by a piece of bone tissue known as the lamina – the posterior part of the vertebra.
Why a Lumbar Laminectomy?
Spinal stenosis, and more specifically lumbar spinal stenosis, is one of the most common and most debilitating conditions affecting the spine. This compression causes issues mainly effecting the lower body extremities, some of the most common symptoms include:
- Muscle spasms in the lower back.
- Sciatica or pain radiating from the lower back, buttocks, legs, and more – especially while walking.
- Lumbar Radiculopathy can often occur as well – leading to more pain, a burning/tingling sensation, muscle weakness, inflammation and numbness across the back and legs.
A Lumbar Laminectomy may become necessary when any of the above symptoms occur, or other compression issues caused by conditions such as bone spurs, degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, sciatica, spondylosis and more.
