Laminoplasty

A laminoplasty provides lasting relief if you have back or neck pain caused by a narrowed spinal canal or compressed nerves. The minimally invasive procedure presents few risks. At his practice in Santa Monica, California, orthopedic spine surgeon William Sheppard, MD, MPH, regularly uses laminoplasty to address neck and back problems that don’t respond to more conservative treatments. Call the office of William Sheppard, MD, today to schedule a laminoplasty consultation, or book your appointment online.

What is laminoplasty?

Laminoplasty, a minimally invasive spine surgery, eases pressure on your spinal cord and the surrounding nerves. More specifically, it creates space in your spinal canal by opening the lamina. The lamina is bone on the back of each vertebra. Opening it up helps support and stabilize your spine and relieves pain.

Which problems does laminoplasty treat?

Dr. Sheppard uses laminoplasty to treat various conditions that place excess pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, including:

• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
• Herniated discs
• Bone spurs
• Arthritis
• Fractures

Sometimes, Dr. Sheppard prescribes laminoplasty to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). This condition compresses the spinal cord in the neck and is caused by age-related wear-and-tear.

Am I a candidate for laminoplasty?

Before recommending a laminoplasty, Dr. Sheppard reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and completes a physical exam. He orders blood work, a urinalysis, and diagnostic imaging to look at your spinal column and the surrounding tissues.

If you have severe neck or back pain caused by nerve or spinal compression, and it doesn’t improve with activity changes and other conservative treatments, you qualify for the procedure.

Tell Dr. Sheppard if you take prescription medication or smoke. Some drugs increase the risk of surgical complications, so Dr. Sheppard might recommend alternatives. Smoking also increases your risk of problems, so Dr. Sheppard will ask you to cut back or quit until after your operation.

What happens during a laminoplasty?

Laminoplasty surgery typically takes one to three hours.

On the day of your procedure, you lie face down on an operating table. An anesthesiologist administers a general anesthetic, causing you to fall asleep.

After the anesthetic sets in, Dr. Sheppard makes a small incision above the affected lamina in your back or neck. He cuts the lamina open, creating a hinge. The hinge relieves pressure on your spinal column and nerves without completely removing the bone.

Dr. Sheppard then places a bone graft or uses metal screws and plates to secure the new opening. This strengthens your vertebra without fusing the bones.

After placing the bone graft and securing your vertebrae, Dr. Sheppard closes the incision and moves you to a recovery room.

Call the office of William Sheppard, MD, today to schedule a laminoplasty consultation, or book your appointment online.