Laminectomy

Orthopedics | About spine surgery | Diagnosis | Treatment | Recovery and rehabilitation

Spinal stenosis is when the spine tightens and presses on the spinal cord. Stenosis can cause neck pain. A laminectomy can help make the spinal canal larger and remove bone spurs, hard bumps that form on the ends of bones and can cause pain. 

The lamina is the back side of the spine canal and covers the spinal cord. Removing the lamina gives more room for the nerves. This also helps reduce pressure on the spinal cord as well as swelling of the spinal nerve. 

During surgery, only one side of the lamina is removed. This is to make sure the spine doesn't start to tilt forward.