What Is Lumbar Hemilaminotomy Foraminotomy
When a lumbar disc in the spine is herniated or damaged, either through trauma or degeneration, it often puts pressure on spinal nerves and causes significant pain and loss of function. The laminae appear as shingles on the back of the spine providing protection to the spinal nerves. To decompress the spine, a hemilaminectomy can be performed. In this procedure, the surgeon only removes part of the lamina on the side that needs to be decompressed, preserving its basic structure. A foraminotomy is another procedure that takes pressure off the spinal nerves. In a formaninotomy, the surgeon removes material that is blocking the passageway where the spinal nerves go through the spinal canal. This widens the area and decompresses the spinal nerves, alleviating pain. Both of these procedures can help patients who suffer from spinal nerve compression which can cause pain, weakness and numbness.About Nerve Compression
What Is A foraminotomy– A foraminotomy is a decompression surgery that is performed to enlarge the passageway where a spinal nerve root exits the spinal canal. The term foraminotomy is derived from the medical term for a hollow passageway—foramen. The latter half of the term foraminotomy—otomy—means to open.
During a foraminotomy, the spine surgeon removes bone or tissue that obstructs the passageway and compresses (pinches) the spinal nerve root, which can cause inflammation and pain. The nerve (neuro) passageways are called neuroforamen.
How Nerve Compression Happens –When the size of a neuroforamen is reduced, there is less room for the spinal nerve, which may cause nerve compression. Symptoms may include pain, stiffness, numbness, tingling sensations, and/or weakness.
Since spinal nerves branch outward to form the peripheral nervous system, these symptoms may radiate into other parts of the body. For example, cervical nerve root compression can cause symptoms in the shoulders, arms, and hands. Lumbar symptoms may radiate into the low back, buttocks, legs, and feet.
Facts About Spinal Degeneration:
- The discs of the spinal column usually allow comfortable movement. But age, injuries, and some degenerative conditions, such as arthritis, can cause damage to the discs.
- The discs may thin, dry out, or swell and bulge, resulting in inadequate cushioning. When discs become damaged, this is called degeneration. Discs can also swell or break open, which is called herniation.
- Sometimes the pain causes muscle stiffness and soreness. It can also radiate to other areas of the body, causing headaches, back, and shoulder pain.