Laminoplasty

Laminoplasty is a spinal decompression procedure in which additional room is created in the spinal canal by creating a hinged “door” in the lamina, which forms the roof of the canal. This may be performed to alleviate pressure on the spinal cord caused by a herniated disk, bone spurs or other condition that causes spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal). In contrast with a laminectomy, where an open “window” is created in the lamina through which the surgeon can remove bone spurs and portions of a degenerated disk, laminoplasty does not usually involve the removal of significant material and minimizes disturbance to the spinal canal. Laminoplasty procedures can be performed in the lumbar, thoracic or cervical portions of the back and neck, and typically require only a short recovery time. In the case of a cervical laminoplasty, patients may need to wear a neck brace for some time after surgery, but are usually able to walk within hours of the procedure.