Lumbar Laminectomy
This webpage will give you information about a
lumbar laminectomy. If you have any questions, you should ask your
GP or other relevant health professional.
What is spinal stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is where the spinal canal
narrows, usually in your lower back. The spinal cord passes down
the spinal canal from the brain. Nerves from your spinal cord leave
the spine between the vertebrae (see figure 1).
Figure 1 a - Normal vertebra
Figure 1 b - The causes of spinal stenosis
The spinal canal can narrow because of
congenital diseases, arthritis in the spine, thickening of the
ligaments and bulging of the discs.
The nerves can get trapped in the spinal canal
where it is narrowed, or where they leave the spine, causing
weakness or pain in your legs.
What are the benefits of surgery?
You should be relieved of any pain or weakness
in your legs.
Are there any alternatives to a lumbar laminectomy?
If you only have mild symptoms, you may not
need any treatment. If you have pain down your leg that is caused
by pressure on a nerve in your lower back (sciatica), you can have
a steroid epidural injection in your spine.
There is a new treatment that involves placing
implants between the bones in the affected area of your spine to
prevent your spinal canal from narrowing.
What does the operation involve?
You will usually have an MRI scan, to confirm
the diagnosis and help your surgeon to plan the operation.
A variety of anaesthetic techniques are possible. The operation
usually takes between one and three hours.
Your surgeon will make a cut in the centre of your lower back.
They will remove enough bone and ligament tissue from the back of
the spine to free the trapped nerves.
Your surgeon may need to join the bones using a bone graft.
Sometimes they will need to use metal screws and rods.
What complications can happen?
1 General complications
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Infection in the surgical site (wound)
- Unsightly scarring
- Blood clots
- Difficulty passing urine
- Chest infection
- Heart attack
- Stroke
2 Specific complications
- Continued pain or numbness
- Numbness between your legs, loss of normal
bowel and bladder control and, in men, problems with having an
erection
- Tear of the thin membrane that covers the
nerves in your spine
- Infection in the spine
- Spinal instability
How soon will I recover?
You will normally be able to start walking on
the first day after surgery.
You should be able to go home after three to
five days.
Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities
as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, you should ask a
member of the healthcare team or your GP for advice.
Most people make a good recovery from surgery. However, you may
still get backache because of wear and tear in your spine.
Spinal stenosis can sometimes come back.
Summary
Spinal stenosis causes pain or weakness in your
legs. If your symptoms are severe, a lumbar laminectomy should
relieve your symptoms and help you to return to normal
activities.
Acknowledgements
Author: Mr Stephen Milner DM FRCS (Tr. &
Orth.) and Miss Maria Cartmill FRCS (Neuro. Surg.)
Illustrations: Mr Stephen Milner DM FRCS (Tr.
& Orth.)
This document is intended for information
purposes only and should not replace advice that your relevant
health professional would give you.
Copyright © 2011 EIDO Healthcare Limited
The operation and treatment information on this website is produced
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The information should not replace advice that your relevant
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