Before the patient is considered suitable for spinal compression surgery, patients will be offered a number of non-surgical treatments

to see if these can help their symptoms. These may include painkillers, antidepressants, physiotherapy or corticosteroid injections. Decompression surgery is usually only recommended if:

previous treatment has failed to relieve your symptoms

your symptoms are severe and have a negative impact on your quality of life

you are thought to be healthy enough to withstand the effects of the surgery

Spinal stenosis Cauda equina Slipped Disc and nerve compression Injury , such as dislocation and fractures, or the swelling of tissue after spinal surgery, can put pressure on your spinal cord or nerves SOL

Although the literal meaning of laminectomy is 'excision of the lamina', a conventional laminectomy in neurosurgery and orthopedics involves excision of the posterior spinal ligament and some or all of the spinous process. Removal of these structures with an open technique requires disconnecting the many muscles of the back attached to them

When the disabling symptoms of spinal stenosis are primarily neurogenic claudication and the laminectomy is done without spinal fusion, there is generally a rapid recovery and long term relief. However, if the spinal column is unstable and fusion is required, the recovery period can last from several months to more than a year, and the likelihood of symptom relief is far less probable

Another procedure, called the laminotomy, is the removal of a mid-portion of one lamina

A discectomy is the surgical removal of herniated disc material that presses on a nerve root or the spinal cord. The procedure involves removing the central portion of an intervertebral disc, the nucleus pulposus. In conjunction with the traditional discectomy, a laminotomy is often involved to permit access to the intervertebral disc. Disc Extrusion/Sequestration

A surgical procedure aimed to increase the foraminal canal and relieve aggravated nerve roots by eliminating excessive bone, vertebral disc material, and other spinal irregularities. Usually combined with laminectomy.

Problems with anesthesia thrombophlebitis infection - nerve damage Discitis - segmental instability - on going pain Nerve Damage Any surgery that is done near the spinal canal can potentially cause injury to the spinal cord or spinal nerves. Injury can occur from bumping or cutting the nerve tissue with a surgical instrument, from swelling around the nerve, or from the formation of scar tissue. An injury to the spinal cord or spinal nerves can cause muscle weakness and a loss of sensation to the areas supplied by the nerve. Segmental Instability Laminectomy surgery can cause the spinal segment to loosen, making it unstable. The facet joints on the back of the spine normally give enough stability, even when the lamina is taken off. This is why surgeons prefer not to remove the facet joints. But these joints may have to be removed if they are enlarged with arthritis or are pushing on the spinal nerves, as explained earlier. When the facet joints must be removed, additional surgery (a fusion) may be needed to fix the loose segment. Ongoing Pain Many patients get nearly complete relief of symptoms from the lumbar laminectomy procedure. As with any surgery, however, you should expect some pain afterward.

Patient is back home One to four days after your operation. Recovery is quicker after a microdiscectomy and your state of health.

Get up and move about as soon as possible. Not moving can increase your risk of DVT and movement helps to speed up the recovery process. After operation, a physiotherapist will monitor patients specific needs and help their safely regain strength and movement.

Core stability, scar tissue, tissue health, tissue fluidity, ROM, exx, advice, diet, ergonomics, osteopathic techniques: Axx, Txx, St, HVT, streches, harmonics, Function technique, still technique, breathing exx.

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