Laminectomy With or Without Fusion

During a laminectomy, a one-inch incision (or longer for extensive stenosis) is made in the middle of the back over the affected region of the spine. The muscles over the bone are moved aside until the laminae (the flat bony element covering part of the spinal canal) can be visualized. With the use of a microscope and specialized tools, the laminae are removed and the nerves are decompressed (released so that they are no longer pinched). Any unnecessary bone spurs and thickened ligaments that compress the nerves are also removed.  This procedure is usually lasts between 30 minutes to 120 minutes depending of the extent of stenosis, without any significant complications. The majority of patients with spinal stenosis experience immediate relief of their symptoms after surgery.

For patients with back pain due to spondylolisthesis (abnormally slippage between bones), scoliosis (curvature of the spine) or spondylosis (severe arthritis of the spine) in addition to a laminectomy, fusion may be required, with or without the placement of screws and rods.  The fusion is procedure where a bone graft, or synthetic bone graft is used to create a solid bony fusion across the unstable segments. Fusion adds more operative time and is generally associated with a slightly longer recovery and postoperative pain compared to laminectomy alone. After this procedure, most people go home in 3-4 days.