Laminectomy
This surgery removes the lamina, two small bones that protrude from a vertebra, or bone spurs in the back taking pressure off the spinal nerves or spinal column. This procedure opens up the spinal canal so the spinal nerves have more room. Once the procedure is complete, a medical professional has the patient walk around as soon as the anesthesia wears off. Most patients are allowed to go home one to three days after surgery.
Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion
This is a relatively new, minimally invasive approach performed on the anterior spine. This procedure avoids an incision that traverses the abdomen and also avoids cutting or disrupting the muscles of the back. In this fusion technique, the disc space is accessed from a very small incision on the patient's side a couple of inches in length, occasionally with another small, one-inch incision just behind the first.
Special retractors are utilized, in addition to a fluoroscopy machine, which provide real-time x-ray images of the spine. In addition, special monitoring equipment is used to determine the proximity of the working instruments to the nerves of the spine. The disc material is removed from the spine and replaced with a bone graft, along with structural support from a cage made of bone, titanium, carbon-fiber or a polymer.
This technique typically allows a shorter hospital stay and may be less painful than traditional approaches to the spine, however it also has limitations. Only those vertebra of the spine that have clear access from the side of the body can be approached using this technique. Also, only one or two levels can usually be accessed via this method.
Lumbar Corpectomy
This procedure is performed to fuse two vertebral bodies together due to a fracture of the lumbar vertebral body, or for significant compression of the dura mater from the vertebral body. The goal is to position a graft in order to eventually join and fuse with the vertebrae above and below it.
Lumbar Disc Microsurgery
There are two types of this procedure, Microcompression and Microdiscectomy. Microdecompression is the removal of bone from the spine and Microdiscectomy is the removal of the disc. Both procedures are a way to perform lower-back surgery through a small incision and take pressure off nerves to reduce symptoms.
Lumbar Interbody Fusion (IBF)
This procedure is a less invasive way to fuse the spine and is generally used for the treatment of back pain caused by degenerative disc disease. The damaged disc is partially removed to eliminate the inflammatory proteins within the disc. Temporary spacers are inserted into the empty disc space to realign the bones and lift pressure from the pinched nerve roots. They are then replaced by threaded metal cages packed with bone graft, which are then screwed into place.
Lumbar Laminotomy
A surgical procedure used to relieve pressure off the spinal canal for the exiting nerve root and spinal cord. It increases the amount of space available for the neural tissue, releasing the nerve. This procedure is done in order to treat bone spurs, pinched nerves, spinal stenosis, herniated discs, bulging discs and arthritis of the spine.
Lumbar Pedicle Screw Fixation
This system is used for spinal stabilization and has become fairly common in spine surgery. The screws traverse all three columns of the vertebrae allowing rigid stabilization of the ventral and dorsal aspects of the spine. The fixations do not require intact dorsal elements, so they can be used after a laminectomy or traumatic disruption of laminae.
