When Should I Consider Spinal Stenosis Surgery?
Spinal stenosis surgery is generally considered when non surgical treatments have failed to improve the patient’s symptoms and their quality of life is being seriously affected. If you are experiencing numbness or muscle weakness interfering with your walking or you are having problems with bowel or bladder function, lumbar or cervical stenosis surgery may be considered immediately.
What Are the Available Spinal Stenosis Surgery Options?
Endoscopic Discectomy:
The patient is brought to the operative room, and intravenous sedation is administered. Under local anesthesia, a small metal tube, the size of a pencil, is inserted into the troublesome lumbar spine area under x-ray fluoroscopy guidance. This tube serves as a passage for the surgical tools so that the patient’s muscles do not have to be torn or cut, as what happens in open discectomy.
Upon completion, the patient is encouraged to walk around and is free to leave the surgical center with a companion the same day.
Foraminotomy:
Performed to widen the foramen, a small opening in the spine through which a nerve root leaves the spinal canal. Similar to laminotomy, foraminotomy is also a minimally invasive procedure, during which a small incision is made and an endoscopic is used to see inside your spine.
Whenever possible, Dr.Liu will attempt to treat your condition with the less invasive options listed above. However, due to severity or progression it may be necessary to perform a Laminectomy or Laminotomy. To find out which treatment is recommended for your Spinal Stenosis, use our Treatment Check Tool™.
Laminectomy:
With laminectomy, the lamina at the back of the spine is removed to create more space for the spinal cord. Laminectomy is traditionally done in an open fashion. During traditional open laminectomy, the surgeon cuts open the skin to approach and treat the condition. Traditional open laminectomy is well known to be associated with high complication rate, large amount of blood loss, and lengthy recovery.
Laminotomy:
With laminotomy, only part of the lamina is removed to decompress the spinal cord. Laminotomy is a minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery, in which the surgeon needs only a small incision to gain access to the spine.
