Laminoplasty is a surgical treatment that aims to relieve the pain caused by the pressure on the nerves. Laminoplasty involves the repositioning of the lamina, aiming to give more space to the nerves.

Most commonly, this surgery is performed in the cervical part of the spine.

Surgical procedure: the steps.

1. Your surgeon will perform an incision in your back, over the area that needs to be operated. The muscles that surround the spine are moved aside, to allow a clear view of the surgical site.
2. A specific instrument is used to cut one groove on one side of the vertebra, aiming to create a hinge.
3. The other side of the lamina is completely cut.
4. The tip of the spinous process is removed.
5. The lamina is then lifted and rotated, laterally moved like a door (often surgeons refer to this procedure as the “open door” procedure)
6. The procedure relieves pressure immediately because the space for the nerves increases.
7. The lamina, elevated and rotated, is then secured in the new position with a suture and small wedges of bone, inserted in the opened space