Home | Contents | Search | Physicians | Contact Us

Medical and Surgical Treatments The best treatment for each patient must be based on an accurate diagnosis. Although it is appealing to have the latest procedure, the newest medication, the smallest micro-surgery or arthroscopic surgery, best treatment must be appropriate for each individual patient’s condition. Treatment must also be based on scientific evidence, not marketing on television or in news magazines. At SpineCare, we pride ourselves on making correct and complete diagnoses, and then offering our patients the most effective treatment for their unique problems. We cannot jump at the latest fad, things that have not been proven to work. Our patients and our reputation mean too much for that. Spine surgery must be taken seriously. It is imperative to select the right procedure for the right patient at the right time. Many of the terms discussed here are also defined in the SpineCare glossary and illustrated in the section on anatomy. Laminectomy The lamina is a portion of bone in the back of the vertebra that forms an arch (see anatomy section). Laminectomy is a procedure in which part or almost of the arch is removed. There are several reasons to perform laminectomy. Removing the lamina provides access to the inside of the spinal canal, and therefore allows the surgeon enough room to remove a herniated disc or to open up a tight nerve hole (foramen). If there is a narrow and tight spinal canal (spinal stenosis) that is putting pressure on the nerve sac (dura), then laminectomy will relieve that pressure, and help leg pain that is due to spinal stenosis.

Copyright © 1997–2006 by SpineCare Medical Group. All rights reserved. Read our disclaimer.