A lumbar laminectomy is a surgery used to increase the space through which the spinal cord and nerve roots pass if it has narrowed (stenosis), and also used in cases of herniated discs. If you have heard of this procedure and would like to know more about what it involves and what recovery from this surgery is like, we invite you to read this article.
A lumbar laminectomy, also known as decompression, is the surgery most often used to treat lumbar spinal stenosis. The goal is to relieve pressure on the nerve roots that make up the cauda equina (named for its resemblance to a horse’s tail). Such pressure on the nerves can be caused by changes in the spine produced by aging.
Below we list the main symptoms, that along with an evaluation by a doctor, may indicate that a patient is a candidate for this type of spine surgery:
- Numbness or tingling in the legs.
- Weakness in the legs.
- Difficulty walking and lack of balance.
- Problems with sphincter control.
Lumbar laminectomy surgery: step-by-step
Once the specialist has made the diagnosis and determined that this type of surgery is the best option for treating the patient, the surgery is scheduled. To patient will undergo general anesthesia, and the operation is performed with the patient lying face down on the surgical table.
Once the incision is made, the surgeon proceeds to separate the muscles to reach the bone structure, where the area to be treated is held with a surgical retractor. At this point doctors will start working, either on a part of the lamina in the spine (hemilaminectomy, which corresponds only to one side) or on the entire lamina (laminectomy).
At this point, the surgeon removes the lamina or a part of it, and then does the same with a ligament that is located under it. When they have finished the extraction, they will have freed the neural elements, relieving the pressure that the spinal nerve roots had been suffering.
In some cases, the surgeon may need to physically mobilize the nerves and roots that may be blocked or stuck to the bone structure as a result of the patient’s pathology.
Among the benefits of this surgery are the following:
- Prevents destabilization of the spine.
- Decompresses the neural elements.
- Conserves the patient’s physiological mobility.
Meet Dr. Baños, one of the doctors at Instituto Clavel who performs this surgery
Recovery after a lumbar laminectomy
Once the patient has woken up from surgery and the effect of the anesthesia has worn off, the doctor will encourage them to get out of bed and take a few steps. Generally, the length of hospital stay does not exceed 3 days. At Instituto Clavel, once two weeks have passed after the operation, we send the patient to physical therapy sessions to continue recovering.
It is not recommended that the patient maintain complete rest after a lumbar laminectomy, rather they should start taking short walks of between 5 and 15 minutes each day. The patient should also go to their scheduled follow-up appointments, where nurses will check on the healing of the incision site. After your follow-up evaluation from the doctor, you will know if you can gradually return to your usual activities.
When resuming physical activity, it is best to avoid high-impact exercises and those that involve bending forwards and backwards or rotation. Using an exercise bike and swimming are excellent activities to begin with. Before doing this type of activity, you should always warm up your muscles and stretch, and always follow the recommendations given by your doctor.
If you notice any of the following symptoms during your recovery process, it is best to go to the doctor:
- Chills or fever above 38°C (100ºF)
- Pain in the area where the surgery was performed
- Pus in the wound
- Loss of sensation in the legs and feet
- Chest pain and shortness of breath
- Swelling in the wound area
- Calf pain
- Difficulty urinating and controlling your bowel movements
Categories: Spine treatments, Surgery, Instituto Clavel