What is the main reason that lumbar laminectomy is done?
Laminectomy may be done to ease pressure on the spinal nerves, treat a disk problem, or remove a tumor from the spine. One common reason for having a laminectomy is a herniated disk in the spine. A disk may be displaced or damaged because of injury or wear and tear.
Is a laminectomy a major surgery?
Laminectomy is a common but major surgery with significant risks and potential complications. You may have less invasive treatment options available. Consider getting a second opinion about all of your treatment choices before having a laminectomy. When laminectomy involves one vertebra, it is called single level.
How long is recovery after lumbar laminectomy?
After a minor (decompressive) laminectomy, you are usually able to return to light activity (desk work and light housekeeping) within a few days to a few weeks. If you also had spinal fusion with your laminectomy, your recovery time will likely be longer — from two to four months.
Is a lumbar discectomy the same as a laminectomy?
Generally speaking, you need a discectomy if the problem is related to the vertebral discs, and a laminectomy if you have problems with the back of the vertebrae. Both surgeries receive pressure on nerves and the spinal cord, but they address different structures.
Is a lumbar laminectomy serious?
Although the outcome of lumbar laminectomy is usually good, about 10% to 15% of patients may subsequently require a repeat surgery due to post-operative complications. Improper diagnosis, physical deconditioning before and/or after surgery, and smoking are a few examples of causes for surgical failure.
How bad is pain after lumbar laminectomy?
After surgery, pain is no longer achy and arthritic but stems from wound healing, swelling and inflammation. You will experience some pain outside of the hospital. For most back surgeries, it will take 1-1.5 months to resume “normal” mobility and function. During this time, pain should be tolerable and controlled.
How painful is a laminectomy?
You can expect your back to feel stiff or sore after surgery. This should improve in the weeks after surgery. You may have trouble sitting or standing in one position for very long and may need pain medicine in the weeks after your surgery.
How painful is laminectomy surgery?
What is the success rate of a laminectomy?
The disadvantages of conventional laminectomy include the resection of osteoligamentous construction, which sometimes causes secondary spinal instability and trunk extensor weakness. The success percentage of the traditional laminectomy procedure is only 64%.
What are the complications of laminectomy?
What are the potential risks or complications of laminectomy?
- Bleeding.
- Infection.
- Medical or anesthesia problems.
- Blood clots.
- Nerve damage.
- Spinal fluid leak.
- Bowel or bladder problems (incontinence).
- Worsening back pain.
What do you need to know about lumbar laminectomy surgery?
The surgery involves removal of all or part of the lamina (posterior part of the vertebra) to provide more space for the compressed spinal cord and/or nerve roots. A lumbar laminectomy is an open surgery that is performed to alleviate pain caused by neural impingement due to spinal stenosis. Watch: Lumbar Laminectomy Surgery Video
What are the risks of having a laminectomy?
Laminectomy: Surgery for Back Pain. Pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots can cause pain and numbness or tingling in the arms and legs. Pressure on the nerve roots in the lower (lumbar) back can lead to trouble walking and problems with bowel and bladder function. Surgery might be an option.
Can you have a laminectomy for spinal stenosis?
Yes, your spine surgeon may consider laminectomy surgery to treat spinal stenosis. Stenosis is a gradual narrowing of the spinal canal (the tunnel created by the bones in your spine where the spinal cord passes through).
Can a laminectomy be done for a herniated disk?
Yes, spine surgeons commonly perform a special type of laminectomy to treat a herniated disk. Intervertebral disks are soft, flexible cushions between the back bones (vertebrae) that are the shock-absorbers for the spine.
