What is spinal decompression?
As per spine specialist in India, arthritis, bulging discs, enlarged joints, thickened ligaments, and bone spurs are age-related changes which might cause spinal stenosis. Along the spine from the neck (cervical) to the lower back (lumbar), spinal decompression can be performed anywhere. With the advancement of medical spinal stenosis treatment is available these days. Generally, this surgery is done through an incision in the posterior (back) muscles. The backside of the spinal canal and a roof over the spinal cord is formed by the lamina bone. Removing thickened ligament and the lamina gives more room for the nerves and allows for the ejection of osteophytes (bone spurs). Subject to the extent of the stenosis, one vertebra or more may be involved.
Why Spinal Decompression Surgery is done?
Spine surgery is getting common nowadays. Various procedures intended to relieve symptoms caused by pressure, or compression, on the nerve roots or/and spinal cord is known as spinal decompression generally. Bulging or collapsed disks, loosened ligaments, thickened joints, and bony growths can slender the spinal nerve openings (foramen) and spinal canal and the triggering irritation. The patient has numerous options, including a discectomy, a corpectomy, a foraminotomy, a laminotomy, or osteophyte ejection.
Symptoms
Spinal nerve compression’s symptoms include the following:
- Pain
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Weakness
- Unsteadiness
Even in some of the severe cases, pressure on the spinal nerves can cause problems with bladder and/or bowel function, and paralysis.
Techniques for Decompression
The following are the most common techniques for decompression:
- Discectomy
- Laminotomy or laminectomy
- Foraminectomy or Foraminotomy
- Osteophyte removal
- Corpectomy
In some cases, a combination of techniques may be used and, in some cases. the fusion of the vertebrae also is required to stabilize the spine.
Risks
According to the research conducted by the spine surgery hospitals in India, the following are the risks related to spinal decompression surgery;
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Nerve or tissue damage
- Allergic reaction to anesthesia
What happens during surgery?
There are 7 steps of the procedure as follows
1. Prepare the patient
The patient will have to lie on their back on the operative table and anesthesia will be given and then the patient will be rolled over onto the stomach with the chest and sides supported by pillows once the patient falls asleep. The area is cleansed and prepped where the incision will be made. A hip incision is not necessary if the patient has decided to use the donor’s bone and the patient decides to use their bone, the hip area will be prepped to get a bone graft.
2. Incision
Over the appropriate vertebrae, a skin incision is made down the middle of the back. The length of the incision is subject to the number of laminectomies are to be performed. The strongback muscles are split down the middle. And then are moved to whichever side divulging the lamina of each vertebra.
3. Laminectomy or laminotomy
An X-ray is taken to verify the correct vertebra, once the bone is exposed.
Laminectomy: the bony spinous process is removed by the surgeon and then the bony lamina is removed with bone-biting tools or drill
Laminotomy: In some cases, to relieve compression, instead of removing the entire protective bony lamina, a tiny opening of the lamina above and below the spinal nerve.
4. Decompress the spinal cord
The protective covering of the spinal cord (dura mater) is visible once the ligament and lamina flavum is removed. To remove bone spurs and thickened ligament, the surgeon will retract the protective sac of the spinal cord and nerve root.
5. Decompress the spinal nerve
The facet joints might be trimmed to give the nerve roots more room called a foraminotomy, this maneuver enlarges the neural foramen.
6. Fusion (if necessary)
If the patient has laminectomies to multiple vertebrae or spinal instability, a fusion may be performed.
7. closure
At last, the skin incisions and muscles are sewn together with staples or sutures.
Femicure 