Laminectomy

Laminectomy is a surgical procedure that consists of removing the bones (the lamina) that overly the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots. It can be used alone as the primary procedure to decompress the spinal cord anywhere along its length or to decrease the pressure on the nerve roots of the lower back (lumbar region) or in combination with further procedures like discectomy or fusion. Furthermore, it can be used to gain surgical access to any lesions within the spinal cord or canal, like tumors, infection or vascular lesions.

Laminotomy

Laminotomy is a surgical procedure that involves removing only a small portion of the bone (lamina) that overlies the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots. It is used to relieve the pressure on the spinal nerve roots by itself or in combination with discectomy.

Microdiscectomy

Microdiscetomy is a surgery performed to relieve the pressure on a spinal nerve root (usually due to a lumbar herniated disc). Through a very small incision, it involves removing a portion of the bone overlying the spinal canal and disc space (the lamina) and subsequently carefully removing the herniated disc. Microdiscectomy is very effective for relieving the compression of nerve root (radiculopathy) due to pressure from a herniated disc.

Myelopathy

Myelopathy is a term that denotes any damage to the spinal cord. It is most commonly caused by external compression of the spinal cord by bone or soft tissue (discs, ligaments) in the cervical spine. However, it can also be caused by problems in the thoracic region or be due to abnormalities within spinal cord itself like infection, inflammatory diseases like multiple sclerosis, vascular abnormalities or degenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Some of the symptoms of myelopathy include weakness and numbness in the hands with or without accompanying numbness and weakness in the arms and legs. Other findings include difficulties with walking and balance or problems with bowel and bladder function.