Purpose of Lumbar Laminectomy – Anil Kesani MD
Dr. Anil Kesani explains that the purpose of lumbar laminectomy is to decompress pinched nerves within the spine. Laminectomy involves the removal of the back part of a vertebra or lamina to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and or spinal nerves. Anil Kumar Kesani, M.D is the founder of SpineMD and specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery to treat various neck and back problems or spinal conditions. Dr. Kesani is fellowship trained in spine surgery and certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. Anil Kesani, MD, is well-versed in numerous interventions, including lumbar laminectomies.
There are a number of causes that can lead to increased pressure within the spinal canal and pinched nerves. These include disc herniation or slipped discs, bone spurs within the spinal canal as well as instability or spondylolisthesis. It often occurs in people who have arthritis of the spine, and it can be extremely painful. A rarer cause is tumors that occur within the spine.
Initially medications, physical therapy, and injections are attempted to provide relief before surgery. If the symptoms don’t improve or they continue to worsen, surgery may become the only option. The purpose of lumbar laminectomy is to remove the pressure off the nerves and un-pinch the nerve roots. Occasionally the pressure on the spinal nerves or spinal cord is especially severe and in addition to causing pain it can lead to difficulty walking, weakness and even loss of bladder or bowel control. For more information on this and other surgical spine interventions, please visit SpineMD website here.
