Laminectomy
The spine is made up of hollow, bony building blocks called vertebrae that are stacked on top of each other and are separated by a cushioning disc. The spinal canal is the hollow space inside the spinal column. It's a safe place for the spinal cord, which is a long wire of nerves that connects the brain to the body and allows people to regulate their movements.
Some medical conditions exert pressure on the spinal canal and nerve roots, causing the spine's regular structure to be disrupted and the spinal canal to become narrower than it should be. The pressure is mostly caused by bone spurs and tissues associated with spine arthritis or prolapsed/herniated intervertebral discs. If the spinal cord and nerves no longer have adequate space, patients may experience pain, weakness, or numbness in their neck or back that eventually radiates to their arms or legs. As a result, their daily life would be impacted. In such a case, a surgical intervention would be needed.
A laminectomy is a surgical procedure that enlarges the spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. It is normally only performed after conservative treatments have failed or when patients have significant symptoms such as incontinence or trouble walking.
Arete Hospitals is one of the top-rated multi specialty hospitals having the Best Spinal Surgeons in Hyderabad in panel.
Under the roof of the spine department, top-notch spinal surgeons perform spine surgeries like Laminectomy in Hyderabad for any patient having pinching spinal cord or nerve roots.
- Helps relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots caused by injury, herniated disc, canal constriction (spinal stenosis), or tumours
- Protect against future injury by boosting spinal muscle strength and flexibility
- Reduce the leg discomfort caused by nerve compression
- Reduce pressure on the spinal nerves, which causes discomfort and numbness in the legs.
Laminectomy is a type of Spine Surgery in Hyderabad performed to widen the spinal canal and relieve strain on the spinal cord and nerve roots. It involves the removal of a section or whole of the back part of the vertebrae (lamina), usually of the cervical and lumbar regions, and less often in the thoracic region. The lamina is the roof of the spinal canal that provides protection and support to the posterior of the spinal cord.
Before Laminectomy Surgery
Before the procedure, Laminectomies Doctors in Hyderabad will describe the procedure and ask for a signed patient agreement. Patients will need to provide information about any regular medications they take and may need to fast before they are provided with anaesthesia. Smoking and excessive alcohol intake must be strictly avoided before the surgery and even afterwards.
Laminectomy Surgery Procedure
A laminectomy is performed in an operating room while the patient is under general or spinal anaesthesia.
Laminectomy procedures differ depending on one's particular therapeutic demands. Minimally invasive procedures, with only minor incisions, are sometimes used. Depending on the condition, body size, and number of levels involved, it may be necessary to perform an open procedure with larger incisions.
Laminectomies are frequently combined with additional surgeries, such as discectomy or spinal fusion, to stabilise the spine.
Here is a stepwise procedure of laminectomy surgery:
- Once the operation site of the patient gets numb, the spine surgeon creates an incision in the patient's back, precisely over the affected area of the vertebrae. Through the cut, the Best Laminectomy Surgeon in Hyderabad separates the muscles and tissues around the spine so that the region to be treated can be exposed.
- Next, Best Laminectomy Specialists / Doctors in Hyderabad use small surgical instruments to remove the bony spurs and ligaments compressing the nerves. Depending upon the reason for the surgery, the surgeon may cut away a small section or full portion of the lamina.
- When a laminectomy is performed as part of a slipped or herniated disc surgery, the surgeon also removes the affected herniated portion of the disc as well as any broken or loose fragments. This is also referred to as a discectomy.
- Spinal fusion is also performed if the patient has a spinal cord curvature or if one vertebra has slipped over the other vertebrae, causing nerves to press and causing extreme pain. This is done to improve the spinal cord's stability. In this procedure, the surgeon permanently joins two or more vertebrae together with bone grafts, metal screws, or rods.
- The surgery ends with the closing of the incision with sutures or staples, turning back over the patient, and removal of the breathing tube.
Ideal Candidates For Laminectomy
- An ideal candidate is a patient who has arm or leg discomfort, numbness, or weakness caused by disorders such as spinal stenosis, a herniated disc, or spinal nerve compression. The surgery is unsafe for pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as smokers, alcohol and drug abusers, obese people, or anyone with underlying medical conditions.
- If you are an ideal candidate for this surgery get in touch with experts at Arete Hospitals, Best Hospitals for Laminectomy in Hyderabad for more details.
Laminectomy Cost in Hyderabad
The cost of a laminectomy in Hyderabad can be influenced by factors such as the surgeon's expertise, complexity of the procedure, type of anesthesia used, duration of hospital stay, pre-operative tests, and post-operative care required. For a more detailed guide get in touch with Arête Hospitals experts.
After Discharge
During the early healing period, the patient may have back and leg pain, as well as muscle weakness and/or numbness in the legs. As needed, patients will be given a physical therapy or recovery program to help enhance mobility and strength. A back brace or immobiliser may be advised in certain situations to stabilise the back and prevent movement while the area heals.
For several weeks following laminectomy, physical activities like bending, heavy weight lifting, or stooping should be limited or avoided. The patients must take proper care of their incision sites. After 1-2 weeks, a follow-up visit would be needed for the removal of staples or stitches and to check on the progress of recovery.
Risks and Complications Associated With Laminectomy
Every surgical procedure carries risks; thus, surgery should only be chosen if the benefits outweigh the risks. The following are the potential risks of a laminectomy:
- General anaesthesia risks
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
- Dural tear
- Injury to the spinal cord or nerve roots
- Nerve or blood vessel damage at the surgery site, resulting in paralysis or numbness.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is laminectomy considered serious surgery?
Laminectomy is a common spine surgery, and with new and better surgical procedures, the risks are relatively low.
2. What is the success rate of laminectomy surgery?
85–90% of patients with lumbar central spinal stenosis have relief from leg pain following an open laminectomy. While 75% of patients may have satisfactory results for up to 10 years after surgery.
3. Does lumbar laminectomy weaken the spine?
In the majority of cases, there is no effect on spinal strength. It usually depends on how much tissue is removed and whether the spine has already been compromised by previous surgery, arthritis, or degenerative changes.
4. What to expect following a laminectomy?
In the majority of cases, the surgical procedure of laminectomy has been extremely helpful to patients in returning to work and relieving their symptoms. However, the surgery's effectiveness might decrease over time as the spinal cord ages or if spinal arthritis recurs. Laminectomy treatment is particularly effective in treating leg pain caused by nerve compression. However, it does not help arrest the progression of osteoarthritis.
The majority of patients will be admitted to the hospital for several days for postoperative treatment and monitoring.
5. How long is the recovery period after laminectomy?
The length of the recovery period depends upon the extent of the surgery and the unique situation of the patient. In general, after a Laminectomy Spinal Decompression in Hyderabad, the patient can resume light activities in a few days or weeks. If the patient has undergone a spinal fusion too, the recovery time would be 2-4 months. To speed up the recovery, the patient may be recommended gentle walking and physical exercise therapy.
If you want to learn more about laminectomy surgery and its benefits, please get in touch with the surgeons at Arete Hospitals, Best Hospital for Laminectomy in Hyderabad.
