Posterior Cervical Laminoplasty

San Francisco spinal stenosis patients find relief from neck pain through posterior cervical laminoplasty. 3 in 4 patients experience significant pain relief after a cervical laminoplasty. Undergo a San Francisco posterior cervical laminoplasty if you suffer from spinal cord compression at multiple levels, a preserved lordotic curvature, congential cervical stenosis, a large anterior herniated disc(s) and/or bone spur(s). The posterior approach means that the lamina is reached and decompressed through the back instead of the front.

What is it?

The Posterior Cervical Laminoplasty is a surgical procedure that treats spinal cord compression and other defects in the spine, reducing pain at multiple levels especially the neck. In the cervical spine, this procedure is best at reducing neck pain for San Francisco sufferers, and “posterior” simply means that the spine is accessed through incisions in the back instead of through the front, which is referred to as an anterior approach. A laminoplasty works by removing pressure from the cervical spine (often called spinal stenosis), allowing the spine to heal and then reversing symptoms.

Purpose

  The main purpose of San Francisco posterior cervical laminoplasty is to reduce pain felt in the neck. This pain often leads to problems including myleopathy, which causes numbness, pain, and weakness in the arms and hands, as well as issues with motor skills and balance. By reversing the compression on the spine, these symptoms tend to resolve, making it easier for patients to perform daily tasks free of pain.

Benefits

The biggest benefit to undergoing a San Francisco posterior cervical laminoplasty is pain relief. The surgery targets areas of the spine that are compressed, causing pain and pressure mostly in the neck. A huge benefit of posterior cervical laminoplasty over other surgeries that relieve pain associated with spinal stenosis is maintained stability of the spine. Even when performed at multiple levels, which is typically the case with a posterior approach, the spine is able to remain stable while also preserving motion at multiple levels, reducing stiffness and making it easier for patients to move naturally after surgery. As a result of these benefits, patients can stop relying on pain medication to make it through the day.

Areas the Surgery Helps:

  San Francisco posterior cervical laminoplasty reduces or eliminates cervical spine pain and neck pain.

What conditions can be treated?

  San Francisco posterior cervical laminoplasty surgery solves symptoms related to congential cervical stenosis, herniated discs, bone spurs, curvature of the spine, spinal cord compression and myleopathy.

The procedure:

  In most cases posterior cervical laminoplasty is completed in two to four hours. This often is dependent on how many levels need to be operated on.

• The patient is placed under general anesthesia and laid face-down on the table. Surgical pins may be used to limit motion during the procedure.
• The surgeon makes a cut in the back of the neck and the muscles are detached from the lamina.
• The lamina are then cut from the facet joints on one side.
• A cut is made on the reverse side.
• The lamina is removed from the spinal cord, relieving pressure that causes pain.
• A bone graft is used and often a small titanium plate as well to reattach the lamina to the facet bone.
• In some cases a fusion may be completed at the same time as the laminoplasty.
• The patient is closed and wheeled to recovery.

Risks

  Every surgery comes with a set of risks. Being healthy and happy prior to surgery is the best way to combat complications. Some people may be susceptible to complications with anesthetia, including death, stroke, blood clots in the deep veins, pulmonary embolism and drug allergy. Other complications are rare but can include: bleeding that can lead to a blood transfusion, blood clots, infection, lung problems, spinal cord and nerve injury, spinal fluid leak, problems with the implant or instruments used to stabilize the spine, nonunion that occurs if a fusion does not heal as planned and dural tear. In some cases patients do not experience total or significant pain relief, and the procedure could lead to the need to have a fusion at a later date to maintain spinal stability.

After the procedure:

  Most patients can expect to stay in the hospital for 2-3 days after surgery and wear a neck brace for a few weeks. A full recovery including pain relief and relief from other symptoms can take up to 18 months but it happens gradually.

Alternatives:

  Discuss options for spinal surgery with Dr. Abbi. San Francisco neck pain sufferers will most likely want to target a cervical procedure to reduce pressure in the area. The most common altnerative to this procedure would be an anterior cervical laminoplasty. This procedure offers much the same benefits but is ideal for patients with a slightly different presentation. For example, if only one level needs to be addressed, doctors may use an anterior approach instead, while the posterior approach is ideal is accessing multiple levels of the cervical spine.

Payments/cost

San Francisco posterior cervical laminoplasty patients pay an average of $17,734 for this procedure. However, spinal surgery can cost upward of $100,000 easily if a patient does not have insurance.

---

This is the name for the procedure performed from the back to alleviate pressure on nerves which are compressed from stenosis. The back part of the spine, the lamina, is opened and the compression is decreased. The bone may be secured in the new, opened position with bone or plates and screws.