Indications:

The most common indication for a laminectomy is to relive the pain or weakness caused by lumbar stenosis. A laminectomy may also be performed to address a herniated disc or a tumor. A laminectomy may be suggested as a singular procedure or in conjunction with a discectomy and/or fusion.

The Procedure:

The patient is positioned face down and a small incision is made to give the surgeon access to the lumbar spine. The surgeon will then carefully remove the spinous process and lamina to create additional room for the spinal cord or exiting nerve roots which should relieve the pain and weakness associated with the patient pathology. 

Recovery:

A lumbar laminectomy is a very routine procedure that generally yields excellent results. Patients are usually discharged in 1-2 days and with the proper physical therapy and rehabilitation will return to normalcy in 4-6 weeks.

Benefits:

The lumbar laminectomy is a much less invasive procedure than a lumbar fusion and will have a relatively quick healing and recovery time for patients.