Lumbar laminectomy surgery is another word for open decompression. It is an operation performed to help people to relieve back pain. Nerves are carried from your brain, through your spinal cord to every place in your body. In the spinal cord the nerves are carried through the spinal canal, which is formed by the opening in every vertebrae. Due to erosion or degeneration of the spinal cord, the opening can become smaller, this is called spinal stenosis and is frequently seen in older patients. This spinal stenosis can compress the nerves which can cause pain desensitization and weakness of your legs. ‘Lumbar’ means that the region of compression is your lower back.

Lumbar laminectomy surgery is an operation to solve this problem of nerve compression due to spinal stenosis. The operation is performed by a neurosurgeon, who is specialized in operating this area. A small incision is made vertically along the spinal cord on the spot where the nerves are compressed. The back muscles are pushed aside making the vertebrae accessible. The surgeon will remove the part of the bones that are narrowing the spinal canal. If a disc bulges into the spinal cord, it will also be removed.

During surgery the doctor will make several x-rays to ensure that he is working at the right spot. Some surgeons use microscopy to enlarge there working field. Surgery is generally performed under general anesthesia, spinal anesthesia in combination with sedative medicines are also used. After the operation you will be asked to lay on your back for 6 hours to accelerate the recovery of the wound, meanwhile the function of your legs is tested and your blood pressure measured. Your doctor will inform you about the risks of the operation. Complications can be subdivided in general risks and the risks specific for lumbar laminectomy.

Side effects of Lumbar Laminectomy surgery are bleedings, infections and pneumonia after the procedure. Specific complications of Lumbar Laminectomy are nerve damage in the operated area and instability of the spinal segment after removal of the lamina. In advance it is hard to tell if the pain a patient feels is caused by this stenosis. Therefore it is impossible to ensure a patient that the pain will be gone after surgery. In most cases in will, but there is always a change the pain is persisting after the procedure.
If you suffer from lower back pain, visit a doctor to examine the cause. After all, lumbar laminectomy surgery can be a great solution for lower back pain caused by spinal stenosis.