laminectomy

laminectomy /lam·i·nec·to·my/ (lam″ĭ-nek´tah-me) excision of the posterior arch of a vertebra.

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lam·i·nec·to·my (lm-nkt-m)

n.

Excision of a vertebral lamina. Also called rachiotomy.

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Laminectomy

An operation in which the surgeon cuts through the covering of a vertebra to reach a herniated disk in order to remove it.

Mentioned in: Disk Removal

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laminectomy

[lam′inek′təmē]

Etymology: L, lamina + Gk, ektomē, excision

surgical removal of the bony arches of one or more vertebrae. It is performed to treat compression fractures, dislocations, herniated nucleus pulposus, and cord tumors and to stimulate the spinal cord. With the patient under general anesthesia and prone to eliminate lordosis, reduce venous congestion, and keep the abdomen free, the laminae are removed, and the underlying problem is corrected. Spinal fusion with cages, rods, screws, and/or bone graft is used to stabilize the spine if several laminae are removed. If the procedure is a cervical laminectomy, the patient is observed for signs of respiratory distress caused by cord edema. Motor function and sensation in the extremities are evaluated every 2 to 4 hours for 48 hours. The dressing is examined frequently for hemorrhage or leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. The patient is taught to logroll without twisting the spine or hips. laminectomize, v.

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laminectomy,

n the excision of a vertebral lamina, commonly used to denote the removal of the posterior arch.

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laminectomy

surgical excision of the dorsal arch of a vertebra. The procedure is most often performed to relieve the signs caused by a ruptured intervertebral disk or a space-occupying lesion that is compressing the spinal cord.

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continuous laminectomy

the procedure is carried out on all cervical vertebrae for multiple lesions.

Funquist laminectomy

modifications of the procedure which include in type A, bilateral excision of both cranial and caudal articular processes and partial removal of the peduncles. In type B, these structures are preserved.

selected laminectomy

for single lesions, bone is removed from only the adjacent vertebrae.

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laminectomy

Orthopedics A procedure for managing intervertebral disk herniation; the 'classic' laminectomy entails bilateral removal of the lamina of a vertebral body adjacent to a diseased disk as well as varying portions of both articular facets. See Cervical laminectomy, Diskectomy, Hemilaminectomy, Laminotomy.