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During laminectomy
Surgeons usually perform laminectomy using general anesthesia, so you're unconscious during the procedure. The surgical team monitors your heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen throughout the procedure with a blood pressure cuff on your arm and heart-monitor leads attached to your chest. After you're unconscious:
- The surgeon makes an incision in your back over the affected vertebrae and moves the muscles away from your spine as needed. Small instruments are used to remove the appropriate lamina.
- If laminectomy is being performed as part of surgical treatment for a herniated disk, the surgeon also removes the herniated portion of the disk and any pieces that have broken loose (diskectomy).
- If one of your vertebrae has slipped over another or if you have curvature of the spine, spinal fusion may be necessary to stabilize your spine. During spinal fusion, the surgeon permanently connects two or more of your vertebrae together using bone grafts and, if necessary, metal rods and screws.
- The surgeon closes the incision using staples or stitches.
After laminectomy
After surgery, you're moved to a recovery room where the health care team watches for complications from the surgery and anesthesia. You may also be asked to move your arms and legs. Your doctor may prescribe medication to relieve pain at the incision site. You may be most comfortable lying on your side with pillows under your head, behind your back and between your knees.
You might go home the same day as the surgery, although in some cases you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy after a laminectomy to improve your strength and flexibility.
Limit activities that involve lifting, bending and stooping for several weeks after laminectomy. You may also need to avoid long car rides for at least a month. Depending on the amount of lifting, walking and sitting your job involves, you likely will be able to return to work within two to six weeks.
If you also had spinal fusion, your recovery time may be longer. In some cases after laminectomy and spinal fusion, it may be several months before you can return to your normal activities.
- Back pain. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Back_Pain/default.asp#10. Accessed May 13, 2011.
- Lumbar spinal stenosis. North American Spine Society. http://www.knowyourback.org/Documents/stenosis.pdf. Accessed May 13, 2011.
- Curlee PM. Spinal stenosis. In: Canale ST, et al. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1584/0.html. Accessed May 13, 2001.
- Lumbar spinal stenosis. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00329. Accessed May 13, 2011.
- Cervical stenosis and myelopathy. North American Spine Society. http://www.knowyourback.org/Documents/cerv_myelopathy.pdf. Accessed May 13, 2011.
- Levin K. Lumbar spinal stenosis: Treatment and prognosis. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 13, 2011.
- Aminoff MJ. Mechanical and other lesions of the spine, nerve roots and spinal cord. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html#. Accessed May 13, 2011.
- Barbara Woodward Lips Patient Education Center. About your laminectomy. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2009.
- Williams KD, et al. Lumbar disc disease. In: Canale ST, et al. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1584/0.html. Accessed May 16, 2011.
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