Spine Laminectomy

Laminectomy is a spinal surgery that removes a portion of the vertebral bone known as the lamina. The lamina is the back portion of the vertebra that covers the spinal canal. Spine laminectomy is also known as decompression surgery, as the procedure enlarges a patient’s spinal canal to relieve pressure on their spinal cord and/or nerves.

The most common cause of spinal pressure is bony overgrowths within the spinal canal. These growths narrow the space within the canal and limit the amount of room available for a patient’s spinal cord and nerves. This resulting pressure can cause numbness, pain or weakness that moves to a patient’s arms and legs. A Spine laminectomy can help address this issue.

Candidacy

Dr. Subramanian may recommend a spine laminectomy for the following reasons:

More traditional treatments have failed (i.e. medication, physical therapy)
Patient is experiencing muscle weakness or numbness that impairs their ability to stand or walk
Patient is experiencing loss of bowel or bladder control

Sometimes, a laminectomy is performed in conjunction with a herniated disc repair. Dr. Subramanian may need to remove part of a patient’s lamina to access their problematic disc.

Laminectomy Procedure

Patients undergoing a spine laminectomy are placed under general anesthesia or IV sedation.

First, Dr. Subramanian makes an incision along your back over the affected vertebrae. He moves the patient’s muscles to the side to see the spine as needed. Then, he removes the lamina. If a patient requires herniated disc repair, he will also repair the disc at this time.

For qualifying patients, Dr. Subramanian may use a minimally-invasive approach to a spine laminectomy, to reduce patient pain and recovery time.

Laminectomy Recovery

Most patients can leave following laminectomy surgery, though some may require a short hospital stay. Dr. Subramanian encourages patients to walk shortly after surgery, as movement typically indicates a quicker recovery. He also recommends that patients complete physical therapy to return to normal as soon as possible.

If you are experiencing back pain that hasn’t bettered with traditional methods, schedule a consultation with Dr. Subramanian today. Call (713) 650-6900 or visit https://drsubramanian.com/contact/. To read reviews from other patients, click here.

Spine Laminectomy