What is Laminectomy Surgery?

What is a Laminectomy?

how much does Laminectomy surgery cost?

Laminectomy is surgery that creates space by removing the lamina — the back part of a vertebra that covers your spinal canal. Also known as decompression surgery, laminectomy enlarges your spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. That is, it helps ease pressure on the spinal cord or the nerve roots caused by injury, herniated disk, narrowing of the canal (spinal stenosis), or tumors.

This pressure is also caused by bony overgrowths within the spinal canal, which can occur in people who have arthritis in their spines. These overgrowths are sometimes referred to as bone spurs, but they're a normal side effect of the aging process in some people.

Laminectomy is generally used only when more-conservative treatments — such as medication, physical therapy or injections — have failed to relieve symptoms. Laminectomy may also be recommended if symptoms are severe or worsening dramatically.

General information about Laminectomy Surgery

The following table describes general information about Laminectomy surgery including Laminectomy surgery cost in Iran, recovery time, and to name but a few.

General Information
Cost	$ 2500
Anesthesia	General
Hospital Stay	1-4 Days
Back to Work	4-6 Weeks
Duration of Operation	1-3 Hours
Minimum Stay in Iran	3-4 Weeks

Read more about : Is a spinal fusion major surgery?

Read more about : Total knee replacement

Before Laminectomy Surgery

Why it's done

Why is a Laminectomy performed?

A laminectomy is often done to relieve the effects of spinal stenosis. In this condition, your spinal column narrows and puts pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. This pressure can cause pain, weakness or numbness that can radiate down your arms or legs.

Because the laminectomy restores spinal canal space but does not cure you of arthritis, it more reliably relieves radiating symptoms from compressed nerves than it does back pain from spinal joints.

Spinal stenosis may be caused by:

. Shrinking of the discs of the spine and swelling of the bones and ligaments, which both occur with aging.

. Arthritis of the spine, which is more common in older adults.

. A congenital defect, or defect present at birth, such as abnormal growth of the spine.

. Paget’s disease of the bones, which is a condition in which bones grow improperly.

. Achondroplasia, which is a type of dwarfism.

. A tumor in the spine

. A traumatic injury

. A herniated or slipped disc

Depending on the location and severity, spinal stenosis can lead to:

. Pain in the neck or lower back

. Numbness, aching, or tingling that radiates from the arms into the hands

. Numbness or aching that runs down the buttocks and into the legs

. Cramping or weakness in the hands, arms, legs, or feet

. Difficulty walking

. Difficulty controlling bladder or bowel movements

Your doctor may recommend laminectomy if:

. Conservative treatment, such as medication or physical therapy, fails to improve your symptoms

. You have muscle weakness or numbness that makes standing or walking difficult

. You experience loss of bowel or bladder control

In some situations, laminectomy may be necessary as part of surgery to treat a herniated spinal disk. Your surgeon may need to remove part of the lamina to gain access to the damaged disk.

How do I prepare for a Laminectomy?

. Your healthcare provider will explain the surgery to you and offer you the chance to ask any questions that you might have about the procedure.

. You will be asked to sign a consent form that gives your permission to do the surgery. Read the form carefully and ask questions if something is not clear.

. In addition to a complete health history, your healthcare provider may do a physical exam to make sure that you are in good health before undergoing the procedure. You may have blood tests or other diagnostic tests.

. Tell your healthcare provider if you are sensitive to or are allergic to any medicines, latex, tape, and anesthesia medicines (local and general).

. Tell your healthcare provider of all prescribed and over-the-counter medicines and herbal supplements that you are taking.

. Tell your healthcare provider if you have a history of bleeding disorders or if you are taking any blood-thinning (anticoagulant) medicines, aspirin, or other medicines that affect blood clotting. You may be told to stop these medicines before the procedure.

. If you are pregnant or think you could be, tell your healthcare provider.

. Follow any directions you are given for not eating or drinking before the surgery.

. You may get a sedative before the surgery to help you relax.

. You may meet with a physical therapist before your surgery to discuss rehabilitation.

. Certain activities may be limited after your surgery. Arrange for someone to help you for a few days with the household activities and driving.

. Based on your health condition, your healthcare provider may have other instructions for you.

Before laminectomy, a doctor may ask a person to:

. Avoid smoking

. Get a back brace and other supportive devices for use in the home

. Place clothes, food, utensils, and other necessary items in easily accessible places

Risks and Complications

What are the risks and complications of a laminectomy?

As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur. Some possible complications may include:

. Bleeding

. An infection in the surgical site or vertebral bones

. Blood clots in the legs or lungs

. Wound pain

. Risks linked to the use of general anesthesia

. Damage to a spinal nerve

. Difficulty breathing

. Unsuccessful treatment, which can lead to pain that persists after surgery

. A return of back pain, particularly after spinal fusion

. A heart attack

. A stroke

. A cerebrospinal fluid leak because of a tear of the dura mater, which is the membrane that surrounds the spinal cord

. Nerve or blood vessels in the area of surgery may be injured. This can cause weakness or numbness. The pain may not be eased by the surgery or may become worse, although this is rare.

There may be other risks depending on your specific health condition. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider before the surgery.

Read more about : Cycling after knee arthroscopy

10 common question about laminectomy surgery

1What is the recovery time for a laminectomy?

In general, here's what to expect: 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.

2What is the success rate of a laminectomy?

80 percent Laminectomy enlarges your spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, and has about an 80 percent success rate at improving walking abilities.

3How dangerous is a laminectomy?

A few potential complications of open lumbar laminectomy are: Neural tissue damage. Injury to the spinal cord's dura, cauda equina syndrome, nerve roots, and the formation of scar tissue may occur causing neural tissue damage in the lumbar spine.

4Is a laminectomy an outpatient surgery?

Discectomy and laminectomy are common surgical procedures for degenerative lumbar spine conditions. ... Compared with postoperative in-hospital stays, outpatient discectomy is safe,3,5,6 favoured by the most patients,7 and associated with decreased complications.

5Does laminectomy weaken the spine?

Pain in the spine can restrict your ability to move and function. 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. ... The most common symptom of a herniated disk is sciatica.

6Does the bone grow back after a laminectomy?

Years after decompression (lumbar laminectomy), lumbar stenosis can come back (the bone can grow back) at the same level, or a new level can become stenotic and cause back pain or leg pain. ... Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS): What It Is and How to Avoid Pain after Surgery.

7How do you sleep after a laminectomy?

Other Practical Sleeping Tips After Back Surgery Limit daytime naps. ... Consider elevating your upper back, shoulder, and head slightly. ... Use a medium firm pillow under your knees when sleeping on your back. Sleep on a firm mattress, or medium-firm, but avoid sleeping on a too soft mattress after back surgery.

8What are the side effects of a laminectomy?

Complications occur rarely, but include the following: Nerve damage. Blood clots. Spinal fluid leak. Bleeding. Infection. Worsening of the chronic back pain. Risks associated with anesthesia.

9Is post laminectomy syndrome a disability?

Patients with post-laminectomy syndrome often live with chronic pain and disability, which can cause significant distress.Their suffering may be exacerbated by financial pressure arising from inability to sustain employment. Clearly, post-laminectomy syndrome is a challenging and costly disorder.

10Does laminectomy cause instability?

Laminectomy is a commonly used surgical method. The occurrence of spinal stenosis may increase with advancing age. ... Maintaining spinal stability is important after surgical treatment, although the occurrence of spinal instability is not correlated with clinical outcomes6)