Laminectomy

Laminectomy is a major surgery that involves removing some of all of your vertebral bone or lamina. The surgery is also known as decompression surgery, and it is performed to create extra spacing in your spinal canal, thus reducing pressure on the spinal cord and nerves caused by a damaged disc.

Laminectomy is the last result when all forms of treatments have failed to yield results. In addition, the surgery helps in relieving pressure caused by narrowing of the canal, injury, or herniated disc. The pressure is typically caused by bony overgrowths within the spinal canal. These overgrowths are sometimes referred to as “bone spurs,” and they are a common side effect of the human aging process.

What is a laminectomy?

When a dense bone in the spinal canal causes limitations in its spinal canal space, it causes numbness or weakness. The numbness, pain, or weakness felt in your arms, neck, and legs may cause you pain and limit most of your movement (without you realizing it). At Ceda Orthopedic Group, we typically recommend laminectomy if:

  • All other treatments recommended, like physical therapy, or medications don’t produce results.
  • You lose total or complete control of your bowels and bladder.
  • You experience muscle numbness or weakness in your arms or legs, making standing and walking difficult.


In some cases, laminectomy surgery may treat a herniated disc by removing part of the lamina to reach the damaged disc. Laminectomy is performed when more conservative treatments, like injections, medications, or physical therapy have failed to relieve your back pain. It is also recommended by surgeons if the symptoms have severely worsened.

If you think your pain could be healed with the help of an orthopedic surgeon in Miami, Florida, contact a specialist at Ceda Orthopedic Group for more information on Laminectomy or other similar procedures.

Risk of laminectomy procedure

Generally, laminectomy is a safe procedure and poses lower risks to the patients who receive the surgery. However, any surgery major or minor has the potential for risks, such as:

  • Infections
  • Nerve injury
  • Blood clots
  • Bleeding
  • Spinal fluid leak

When a laminectomy procedure is performed, it’s common for a hospital gown to be provided, which you will change into comfort, and to make the procedure easier for the surgeon. The surgical nurse will start you on an IV either in your arm or your hand to administer anesthesia. Once you are under anesthesia and asleep, a nurse will proceed to insert a urinary drainage catheter. If you have excessive hair on the surgical location, it will be clipped or shaved away to prevent distractions or infections; however, your orthopedic surgeon at Ceda Orthopedic Group will have already informed you on all this before the surgery occurs in your preoperative appointments.

During the laminectomy procedure, the surgeon will either lay you on your side or belly on the operating table. Your heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and oxygen will be under close monitor by the anesthesiologist all through the entire surgery. The surgeon will cut the damaged vertebrae then spread the muscle apart.

The surgeon will then remove the bone arch of the lamina to ease the pressure on the affected nerve area.

The procedure may sometimes involve removing bone spurs, removing the part, and sometimes all the disc and growth.

If need be, a spinal fusion may be performed simultaneously if your orthopedic recommends it. Spinal fusion is joining two or more damaged vertebrae in your spine to stop their movements. The incision is then closed by either surgical staples or stitches. These will need to be removed after the incision has healed after the procedure.

Finally, after the laminectomy surgery, you will be under observation in the recovery room until your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and pulses are stable, then moved to your hospital room once you are awake and everything is stable. Your surgeon will prescribe medication and rest to help the healing process. Your surgeon might also recommend physical therapy to speed up the recovery process.

See the results from a laminectomy for yourself: book a laminectomy procedure at Ceda Orthopedic Group

Ceda Orthopedic Group in Miami, Florida, can help relieve pressure caused by narrowing of the spinal canal, injury, or herniated disc. Laminectomy is the last result when all forms of treatments have failed to yield results.

Schedule an appointment with a Ceda Orthopedic Surgeon, and we will recommend pain medication or an exercise plan to help you get back to your usual self. During this initial appointment, we will determine if your back pain could improve with a Laminectomy procedure.

Contact Ceda Orthopedic Group to book an appointment with one of our medical physicians to help with your pain.