What is Lumbar Laminectomy?
The human spine extends from the skull to the pelvis and is made up of individual bones called vertebrae. These are stacked on top of one another and are grouped into 4 regions –
- Cervical (neck) - 7 vertebrae
- Thoracic (chest area) – 12 vertebrae
- Lumbar (lower back) – 5 vertebrae
- Sacrum (pelvis area) – 5 fused vertebrae
The base of the spine, the coccyx (tail bone) includes partially fused vertebrae. The vertebrae are separated from one another by soft pads, called intervertebral discs, which allow the spine to bend and flex and also act as shock absorbers.
Throughout the length of the spine is a central tube, surrounded by bone and discs, called the spinal canal. Inside the canal is the spinal cord which begins at the base of the brain and ends in the lumbar spine area in a bundle of nerves known as the cauda equina (it is said to resemble a horse's tail). A pair of spinal nerves branch out, right and left, at each vertebral level.
Lumbar laminectomy is a surgical procedure most often performed to treat leg pain caused by pressure on the spinal cord (or nerve) from herniated discs, spinal stenosis and other related conditions. Stenosis occurs as people age and the ligaments of the spine thicken and harden, discs bulge, bones and joints enlarge and bony spurs (osteophytes) form. Spondylolisthesis (the slipping of one vertebra onto another) can also lead to compression of the vertebral discs.
The goal of a laminectomy is to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve by widening the spinal canal. This is done by removing or trimming the lamina (roof) of the vertebrae to create more room for the nerves. This may be done with or without fusing vertebrae or removing part of a disc. Various devices, such as screws or rods, may be used to obtain a solid fusion and support unstable areas of the spine.
If you are unhappy with the treatment you have received, results of the operation or believe the surgeon or hospital has been clinically or medically negligent please contact our specialist clinical negligence team for confidential advice. For a free initial assessment of your case please click here and fill out our online enquiry form or please contact us on 0845 402 0001.
