Laminectomy is surgery to remove the lamina. This is part of the bone that makes up a vertebra in the spine. Laminectomy may also be done to remove bone spurs in your spine. The procedure can take pressure off your spinal nerves or spinal cord.

Laminectomy opens up your spinal canal so your spinal nerves have more room. It may be done along with a diskectomy, foraminotomy, and spinal fusion. You will be asleep and feel no pain (general anesthesia).

You lie face down on the operating table. The surgeon makes an incision (cut) in the middle of your back or neck. The skin, muscles, and ligaments are moved to the side. Your surgeon may use a surgical microscope to see inside your back. Part or all of the lamina bones may be removed on both sides of your spine, along with the spinous process, the sharp part of your spine. Your surgeon removes any small disk fragments, bone spurs, or other soft tissue. The surgeon may also do a foraminotomy at this time to widen the opening where nerve roots travel out of the spine. Your surgeon may do a spinal fusion to make sure your spinal column is stable after surgery. The muscles and other tissues are put back in place. The skin is sewn together.