If spinal stenosis is causing persistent pain, numbness, or weakness, a laminectomy may help relieve pressure on your spinal cord or nerves. At Grossman Spine, board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Seth Grossman uses advanced, minimally invasive techniques whenever appropriate to restore comfort, mobility, and your quality of life.
Restore Space for Compressed Nerves
A laminectomy is a surgical procedure that relieves pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots by removing part or all of the lamina, the bony covering at the back of a vertebra. It is commonly performed to treat spinal stenosis and other conditions that compress spinal nerves. Depending on the affected area, a laminectomy may be performed in the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine.
What Does a Laminectomy Treat?
Laminectomy is recommended when spinal conditions narrow the spinal canal or place pressure on the spinal cord. By relieving this compression, the procedure can help reduce pain, restore function, and improve mobility.
Depending on your diagnosis, it may be used to treat:
- Spinal stenosis
- Herniated discs causing nerve compression
- Bone spurs narrowing the spinal canal
- Degenerative changes affecting the spine
- Thickened spinal ligaments compressing nerves
- Spinal tumors requiring surgical access
- Certain spinal infections affecting the spinal canal
- Nerve compression causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness
Your Laminectomy Options
Cervical Laminectomy
A cervical laminectomy is performed in the neck to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots caused by cervical spinal stenosis, herniated discs, bone spurs, or other conditions. By creating more space within the spinal canal, this procedure may help reduce neck pain, arm symptoms, balance problems, and weakness while protecting spinal cord function.
Thoracic Laminectomy
A thoracic laminectomy addresses compression within the mid-back by removing part of the lamina to enlarge the spinal canal. It is commonly recommended for thoracic spinal stenosis and may also be used to access tumors or infections affecting the spine. The procedure can relieve pressure contributing to pain, numbness, weakness, and walking difficulties.
Lumbar Laminectomy
A lumbar laminectomy is performed in the lower back to relieve pressure on nerves affected by lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative changes, or other conditions. Creating additional space around the nerves may help reduce lower back pain, leg pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness while improving walking tolerance and helping restore everyday function.
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Laminectomy:
- Smaller incisions than traditional open surgery
- Less disruption of surrounding muscles and soft tissues
- Reduced postoperative pain for many patients
- Lower blood loss during surgery
- Smaller, less noticeable scars
- Shorter hospital stay when appropriate
- Faster recovery and return to daily activities for many patients
- Reduced risk of certain surgical complications
- Preservation of more healthy spinal structures
What Happens During a Minimally Invasive Laminectomy?
Your minimally invasive laminectomy is performed under general anesthesia, so you will be asleep throughout the procedure. Dr. Grossman begins by making one or more small incisions over the affected area of your spine. Using specialized tubular retractors, a surgical microscope, and advanced instruments, he gently moves the surrounding muscles aside, allowing precise access to the compressed portion of your spine while minimizing disruption to healthy tissues.
Once the affected vertebra is exposed, Dr. Grossman carefully removes part of the lamina and, when necessary, bone spurs, thickened ligaments, or other structures compressing your spinal cord or nerve roots. After confirming the nerves have adequate space, he closes the small incisions and places protective dressings before you are taken to recovery for monitoring.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
Dr. Seth Grossman is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon who believes surgery should be recommended only when truly necessary. When appropriate, he uses minimally invasive techniques to relieve nerve compression while supporting a smoother recovery. At Grossman Spine, patients throughout New Jersey receive personalized, evidence-based spine care. If you’re experiencing symptoms of spinal stenosis, schedule your consultation to learn whether a laminectomy is the right treatment for you.
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