Laminoforaminotomy is a surgical procedure that removes a portion of the vertebral bone and opens up spacing in the spine to reduce spinal cord or spinal nerve pain. At Medicus Spine & Joint in Brunswick, Georgia; Mount Pleasant and Bluffton, South Carolina; and Gainesville, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville, Florida, the orthopedic spine surgeons perform laminoforaminotomy to get you the relief you need. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
Laminoforaminotomy is a type of spine surgery that combines a laminectomy or laminotomy with a foraminotomy.
During a laminectomy, the orthopedic spine surgeons remove a portion of the lamina, the bony part of the spine that serves as the roof to your spinal canal.
A laminotomy is similar to a laminectomy, but only a small amount of the lamina is removed.
A foraminotomy widens the foramina, the space in the bony part of the spine where the spinal nerves exit the spinal canal.
Your orthopedic surgeon at Medicus Spine & Joint determines if you’re a candidate for laminoforaminotomy after an evaluation. They may perform the procedure to treat conditions that cause neck or back pain.
Your surgeon reviews your symptoms and requests imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to evaluate your spine and determine if laminoforaminotomy makes a good choice for you.
If you have a pain condition because of compression or irritation of the spinal nerve, then the surgeons might recommend laminoforaminotomy. They may not consider you a candidate if you have a history of a previous spine surgery.
The orthopedic spine surgeons at Medicus Spine & Joint customize your laminoforaminotomy surgical plan based on the location and reason for the procedure.
When possible, the surgeons use minimally invasive tools and techniques to reduce incision size, post-surgical pain, and recovery time. However, laminoforaminotomy is a serious procedure performed under anesthesia in a surgical suite.
Your provider removes the lamina (or a portion of the lamina) and increases spacing in the foramen.
Your orthopedic spine surgeon at Medicus Spine & Joint may have you stay at the hospital following your laminoforaminotomy during your initial recovery period. They have you up and walking within a day and start your physical therapy immediately.
Your surgeon provides you with a guide that includes activity modifications and at-home exercises to support your recovery and reduce the risk of complications when they discharge you home. You also continue with physical therapy to support the healing process.
You may notice improvements in your pain within a few weeks following your laminoforaminotomy, but full recovery may take several weeks.
To find out more about laminoforaminotomy, call Medicus Spine & Joint or schedule an appointment online today.