Colin Charles Bowers, PA

Depending on the region of pain and affected vertebrae, surgeons will likely perform one of three types of lamina procedure: laminectomy, hemilaminectomy, and laminotomy. These procedures can be performed on any part of the spine.

Laminectomy is the most common lamina procedure. During a laminectomy, the surgeon removes all or part of the lamina to create space in the spinal canal. An incision is made on the back and the back muscles are pulled away to access the spine. The surgeon slices parts of the lamina bone and other ligaments and bone spurs causing compression. Laminectomy is frequently performed on the lower back (lumbar laminectomy) and upper spine and neck (cervical laminectomy).

A hemilaminectomy, also known as a partial laminectomy, is less invasive than laminectomy and is accomplished by a small cut in the lower spine. The surgeon uses a surgical tool called a retractor to hold open the tissue surrounding the cut. A section of the lamina is removed from only one side of the lamina. The entire procedure lasts for about an hour.

During a laminotomy, the surgeon creates a hole in the lamina and removes a small piece of lamina bone. After making a minor incision in the back, surgeons use a burr (medical drill) to create the hole, relieving spinal canal pressure. Laminotomy is frequently the preferred procedure for spinal stenosis as it is less harmful to the muscles surrounding the spine.

Following lamina surgery, patients can expect a few days of hospital stay and a recovery lasting a few weeks to a few months. Recovery may last longer if patients also receive a spinal fusion (surgery to join two or more vertebrae) or other spinal surgeries in addition to a lamina procedure. Heavy lifting, bending, stretching, and other physical activity are strongly discouraged during the recovery period following a lamina procedure. Eventually, many patients begin to experience reduced back pain and improved quality of life.

Spinal cord injury medicine seeks to stabilize the spine and to alleviate the symptoms of spine damage. Practitioners of spinal cord injury medicine are called spinal cord injury specialists. Spinal cord injury medicine is an interdisciplinary field, meaning physicians of various specialties may be trained to treat spinal cord injuries.

Damage to the spinal cord may initially be diagnosed through X-ray, MRI, or CT scans. Patients can also undergo spinal exams to evaluate their sensory ability and strength. Injuries to the spinal cord can be complete (no feeling or sensation) or incomplete (some feeling or sensation remains). Conditions spinal cord injury medicine specialists may treat include:

• Paralysis, such as paraplegia (loss of function in the legs), or quadriplegia (loss of function from the neck down)
• Spine fracture or trauma, which can lead to impairment and/or significant pain
• Spinal infections
• Myelopathies, such as herniated disks, spinal tumors, and rheumatoid arthritis
• Inflammatory diseases such as ankylosing spondylosis, and degenerative conditions like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS)

Treatment for spinal cord injuries often involves surgery, either directly after an injury occurs or at a later date. Surgery for spine injuries is intended to ease spinal compression and stabilize the spine. Surgical procedures can involve shifting vertebrae, removing bone, or altering spinal placement with implantable devices. Patients with significant spinal trauma may require urgent surgical intervention.

Surgical treatments can be complemented by rehabilitative physical therapy to improve mobility. Spinal cord injury specialists also treat complications arising from a spinal injury, such as respiratory or bladder conditions. Some patients with spinal cord injuries may require lifelong treatment. Spinal cord injury specialists aim to help these patients successfully adjust and lead an improved quality of life. An emerging treatment for spinal cord injuries is neural prosthetics, which replicate patients' lost nerve function. Neural prostheses may be used as artificial body parts or assistive devices that patients may cognitively control. Other assistive devices include wheelchairs and scooters.

Spinal cord injury specialists may collaborate with physical therapists, radiologists, neurologists, urologists, and orthopedists.

There are several different types of spinal fusion surgery available, mostly depending on where a patient's pain is located and whether his or her surgeon will perform the procedure through the back, front, or side. In general, a fusion is performed by packing the vertebrae to be fused with grafted bone. This bone may be taken from the patient's hip, may be donated from a cadaver, or it may be a manufactured synthetic material. The bone is placed along the vertebrae, and sometimes, the disc that lies in between the vertebrae is removed and replaced with grafted bone. The bone material will grow and cement the two vertebrae together. After the bone graft is placed, the vertebrae are sometimes held in place with rods, screws, plates, or cages, depending on the weakness of the spine and needs of the graft.

Spinal fusion is a significant surgery and can take three to four hours or more. Recovery is typically two to four days in the hospital. After surgery, it is important to remember that the fusion takes time to grow from the bone graft. So, the actual fusion is not complete for several months. Patients will probably feel somewhat better right away, but it may take a while to feel the full effects of the fusion as the bone grows into place. In the meantime, doctors might have patients wear a brace to protect their spine and keep it properly aligned.

Spinal fusion is not used for all kinds of back pain. Changing the way the spine moves can lead to strain on the other joints in the back, and fusion is only performed when the benefits outweigh the risks. Some spine disorders that are treated with fusion include:

• Curvature disorders, such as scoliosis and kyphosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Spondylolisthesis, a disorder that causes vertebrae to slip over each other
• Significant spinal fractures that cause instability
• Weakened spine due to infection or tumor
• Some cases of spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column
• Chronic lower back pain (although the use of fusion to treat this is controversial)

Regardless of the diagnosis, there is always a possibility of 'failure' with spinal fusion, or of the surgery not fully solving the pain. This is more likely when fusion is used primarily to treat pain instead of structural problems. Patients can improve their chances of a successful outcome by stopping smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, moving their body every day, and following their doctor's instructions for any physical therapy that they are prescribed.