Spinal stenosis surgery
Spinal stenosis surgery is called for based on similar symptoms that describe sciatica. However, when spinal stenosis is confirmed, spinal stenosis surgery is appropriate as patients that have received this spinal stenosis surgery show substantially greater improvements in pain, mobility, and stability in a follow-up two years afterwards. These data were compared to a group of patients that were treated non-surgically.
Even though the goal of spinal stenosis surgery is to repair the compression due to narrowing of the column, stability of the entire column must be maintained at all times. If stability is noticeable or if severe and well-defined areas of arthritis are discovered, then fusion of one or two or even three vertebrae becomes part of the spinal stenosis surgery procedure.
Spinal stenosis surgery
When the spinal column narrows, it traps or pinches the spinal nerves leaving or entering the spinal canal. Therefore, the main goal of spinal stenosis surgery is to decompress the spinal nerves. This is usually performed by a spinal stenosis surgery procedure called a laminectomy.
There are different components that comprise the border of the spinal canal. There is the vertebral body which is attached to two pedicles that extend backwards from the body. The two pedicles are then attached to two lamina which join each other in the midline to complete the spinal ring.
The laminectomy portion of the spinal stenosis surgery targets the lamina where they are shaved and made narrower effectively widening the spinal canal. Once this is done, there should be more room for the nerves.
Another portion of the spinal stenosis surgery could include a foraminectomy. A foramen is the part of a vertebra through which nerves exit and enter the spinal column. If this is narrow and pinching a nerve, then spinal stenosis surgery will incorporate a little bit of carving and widen this hole as well.