 |
|
|
Lumbar Decompression Back Surgery |
|
|
Decompression is a surgical procedure that is performed to alleviate pain caused
by pinched nerves (neural impingement). |
|
|
In this type of back surgery, a small portion of the bone over the nerve root and/or
disc material from under the nerve root is removed to give the nerve root more space
and provide a better healing environment.
|
|
|
Several conditions may cause neural impingement, including spinal stenosis, a disc
herniation, isthmic spondylolisthesis, degenerative spondylolisthesis, or (rarely)
a spinal tumor.
|
|
|
There are two common types of spine surgery decompression procedures: |
|
|
 |
Microdiscectomy (or microdecompression) |
|
|
|
Laminectomy (or open decompression) |
|
|
|
How the decompression back surgery is performed |
|
|
With modern spine surgery techniques, both a microdiscectomy and laminectomy can
usually be done with a minimum amount of morbidity (e.g. post-operative discomfort)
and a high degree of success in alleviating low back pain and/or leg pain. |
|
|
Sometimes in addition to the decompression procedure a spine fusion surgery is also
necessary in order to achieve adequate decompression of a nerve root. This is especially
true if the nerve root is compressed as it leaves the spine (in the foramen), known
as foraminal stenosis. |
|
|
Foraminal stenosis is difficult to decompress simply by removing bone because if
the bone is fully removed in the location of the foramen it is generally necessary
to also remove the facet joint. Removing the facet joint leads to instability, so
a spinal fusion is necessary to provide stability. |
|
|
The foramen can be opened either through an anterior approach (by "jacking" open
the disc space in the front of the spine) or by distracting between two pedicle
screws inserted posteriorly (through the back of the spine). After the foramen is
opened up a spine fusion is also done to keep it open so the instrumentation does
not fail and the foraminal stenosis does not return later.
|
|
|
