What is a Lumbar Laminectomy?
A lumbar laminectomy is performed in the case of spinal stenosis to relieve leg pain that hasn’t improved with conservative treatment.
A laminectomy removes bone and ligament to make more space for the spinal nerves, and aims to relieve leg pain, but does not improve back pain.
What is Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is a non life-threatening condition where disc, bone and ligament are narrowing the space in the spinal canal where the spinal nerves reside, causing various symptoms.
The symptoms of spinal stenosis include:
- Pain in the buttocks
- Pins and needles in the thigh or leg (this may occur when standing or walking)
- Often there is also back pain
- Weakness
Goals
A lumbar laminectomy is performed with the aim of removing the vertebral lamina and decreasing the compression on the spinal cord and nerve roots.