What is Laminoplasty?
A laminoplasty is a surgical procedure used to relieve spinal cord compression in the cervical (neck) spine. It allows marked expansion of the spinal canal and relieves compression of the spinal cord (spinal stenosis) by moving the bony structure away from the spinal canal. Its most common use is in severe cases in which the spinal cord is compressed at multiple levels and is meant to prevent the worsening of neurologic function or paralysis.
Laminoplasty Procedure
The laminoplasty procedure involves “hinging” one side of the posterior bony structure of the spine relieving pressure on the spinal cord. It can be a good alternative to an anterior cervical decompression and fusion provided that the vertebral discs are in good condition.