Professional
Technical
IVT
laminectomy
Pronunciation: lam-ih-NECK-toh-mee
Surgical removal of the lamina (back part of a vertebra) to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.
Full Definition
A spine surgery procedure involving the surgical removal of the lamina, which is the posterior arch of a vertebra. This decompression surgery is performed to create more space for the spinal cord and nerve roots, typically to treat spinal stenosis, herniated discs, or other conditions causing nerve compression. The procedure may be performed at single or multiple levels of the spine.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from laminotomy (partial removal) and laminoplasty (reshaping without removal).
In Context
- "The patient underwent L4-L5 laminectomy for severe spinal stenosis." — Operative report
- "Post-laminectomy instability was assessed using dynamic imaging." — Clinical research paper
Also known as
decompressive laminectomy
lamina removal
Contrasted with
laminoplasty
Don't confuse with
laminotomy
laminoplasty