An Explanation of Lumbar Laminectomy Surgery

The proprietor of East Portland Orthopedic and Fracture Clinic, Timothy Treible, MD has expertise in spine and back procedures. As a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Timothy Treible has performed many back surgeries, including lumbar microlaminectomies.

Lumbar microlaminectomies are intended to treat lumbar disc protrusions and some cases of foraminal stenosis, a condition in which nerves in the lower back become compressed. More extensive laminotomies are performed in cases of spinal stenosis. Symptoms of spinal stenosis include pain and oftentimes the sensation of weakness, tingling, and numbness in the lower back, buttocks, and legs.

The operation consists of the removal of bone from above and below the affected nerve root. The resulting decompression creates more space around the root, allowing for healing. To reach the nerve, the surgeon makes a 1/2 to 1 inch incision and retracts the left and right back muscles from the vertebrae. The doctor then removes a portion of the lamina, a small bone that shields the spinal cord and nerve roots. The facets that overlie the nerve root can then be delicately resected using micro instruments carefully preserving the facet structure to prevent instability.