What is a laminectomy

There are many people who wonder whaté is the laminectomía, although it is a téterm that we do not usually find in our día a día. Nevertheless, if you want to know in depth your spine and the different problems and solutions to them that may exist, It is important to know these concepts..

Index

¿Whaté it's a laminectomyía?

laminectomía it's a surgeryíthrough which it seeks to create a space between the extractionón of theámina, which is the back of the vévertebra that covers the vertebral canal. It is also knownéno how cirugíto decompressionón, and it is that it is in charge of enlarging the mentioned vertebral canal in order to relieve the pressureón on the méspinal cord or nerves, giving theí solutionón the problem that can be suffered in this part of the back.

As a general rule, it must be taken into account that this pressureón is caused by excessive bone growth within the spinal canal. This can happen frequently in those patients who suffer from arthritis in the spine.

This excessive growth is sometimes considered and called spurs óseos, although it must be taken into account that it is a common side effect of the aging process itself in some people.

On the other hand, it should be remembered that it is customary to resort to laminectomía only on those occasions in which the treatments más conservative, as is the case of physiotherapy, injections or medications, and they failed to alleviate the sísymptoms suffered. In this way, a solution is soughtón that allows the patient to enjoy greater well-being and free himself from this problem.

in addition, it must be borne in mind that the laminectomía spaghettiéIt is usually recommended in those cases in which patients alsoén suffer from sísymptoms that are severe or worsen drasticallyástica. Así, The aim is to tackle the problem as quickly as possible in order to make the patient free from the pain and discomfort he suffers for this reason..

¿Whyé laminectomy is performedía?

Growth óExcessive bone within the spinal canal can narrow the space available for both méspinal cord like nerves. Because of this pressureón, the patient who suffers from it may suffer from pain, weakness or numbness; and this can extend to the legs or arms.

Because the laminectomía manages to restore the space that is necessary so that the vertebral canal does not cause that damageñO, keep in mind that does not cure arthritis. Nevertheless, it's meás effective for the relief of sísymptoms that are caused by compressionón of the nerves that for the relief of back pain that isá caused by the joints of the spine.

The specialist may recommend the patient to have a laminectomía in the following cases:

  • When the conservative treatment that has been initially recommended, such as the use of medications or physiotherapy, can not improve the sípatient symptoms.
  • In those cases in which there is muscle weakness or numbness that causes difficulty both walking and standing.
  • If you begin to lose bowel or bladder control.

In certain cases, the laminectomyímay become necessary as part of the surgeryífor the treatment of a intervertebral disc herniation. In these types of situations, the surgeon may need to remove part of the lámine to be able to have aceí accessed the disk fromñado.

Risks

The laminectomía it is a surgical procedureúthat is considered safe, yes ok, As with any other type of surgeryía, complications can occur, How can the existence of bleeding, infectionón, this oneón nervous, coáthroats of bloodíneos or l spillíquido cefalorraquídeo.

Prepare usón de la operationón

To carry out this surgeryíIt is necessary to take into account a series of previous considerations, having to avoid eating or drinking for a certain amount of time before surgeryía. This indicationón vendorá given by the specialist himself, what to beá Whoén need to indicate specific instructionsínecessary information about the types of medicines and whatáthey must be taken or avoided before undergoing this surgeryía.

the surgeryía

In general, when carrying out the laminectomía, surgeons resort to general anesthesia, which implies that the patient will beá unconscious during the procedure. afterés of the surgeryía, The patient is taken to a recovery room.ón, where the specialist examineá if there are complications from the surgeryíand the anesthesia, spaghettién being able to ask him to move his arms and legs; and alsoécan'tímedication to relieve pain at the incision site may still be prescribedón.

One point to consider is that it is possible to go home the same dayíto the surgeryía, although some people may need a stateíshort in hospital. In fact, It is likely that the specialist will recommend physiotherapy sessions after having undergone an intervention.ón of laminectomía so that theí Strength and flexibility can be improved.

in functionón the number of times you have to lift things, walking and sitting at work, it will be possibleá return to work in just a few weeks; and if it is done together with a fusióno spinal, it will be neededá a recovery timeón major.

Laminectomy Resultsía

It is important to note that in most cases, being subjected to a laminectomía represents a considerable improvement of theíntomas, especially with regard to the reductionóNo of the pain that spreads  to the legs or arms.

Nevertheless, It must be taken into account that this benefit can be reduced over time if you have someúa particularly aggressive type of arthritis. Laminectomy is less likelyíto serve to improve the pain suffered in the back itself.