Laminaplasty- Cervical Spine - Pain Management

Introduction

The cervical spine is composed of a series of small bones in your neck.  Your spinal cord is located in an opening inside of the bones.  The spinal cord and spinal nerves exchange information between your brain and body.  Certain degenerative spine conditions can cause the opening in the spine to become smaller.  When this happens, it can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, affecting the way they work and causing pain.

A cervical laminaplasty is a surgical procedure that is used to create a larger opening in the bone to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.  A laminaplasty can relieve symptoms to allow people to resume their favorite activities.  For people with significant spinal cord or nerve damage, function may not return following laminaplasty, but the procedure stops their condition from progressing further.

Anatomy

Causes

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Treatment

One method of laminaplasty uses a complete incision on one side of the lamina and a partial incision on the other side to create a “hinged door.”  Another method of laminaplasty is referred to as the “French Door Method.”  This surgery uses a complete incision through the middle of the lamina and partial incisions on each side to create two “doors” that open in the middle.  The spinous process projections are removed to allow room for the doors to open.  The opened door relieves pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.  Pieces of bone or surgical hardware are placed to allow the “doors” to remain open, and at the same time, creates a protective roof that covers the back of the spinal cord.  When the procedure is complete, the incision is closed and bandaged.

People typically remain in the hospital for a few days following laminaplasty. Participating in physical therapy  will help you gain neck strength and flexibility.  Your symptoms may improve immediately or over time.  For some people function returns following laminaplasty and allows them to resume their favorite activities.  For people with significant nerve damage, although function may not return, a laminaplasty can help keep their condition from progressing.