Laminectomy

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which specialist should I consult for symptoms of cervical or lumbar spine disease?

You should consult a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic surgeon qualified in spine surgery.

2. How long do I need to remain in the hospital?

For a laminectomy procedure, the patient is usually discharged in 24 hours. In case of spinal fusion, the hospital stay may be up to 3 to 5 days.

3. Will my back pain and other symptoms completely go away after surgery?

Most patients report very good pain relief following laminectomy and are able to resume their normal activities. However the disk or vertebra that is diseased will never be completely normal, and there is a possibility that the condition might recur in the same disk or adjacent vertebral disk.

4. Will the entire disk be removed?

The surgeon will remove only the ruptured and damaged portion of the disk, which will be 15-20 percent of the disk.

5. When can I go back to work?

Following minimally invasive operative procedures, one can return to normal activities within the home once the pain is better, though there may be some restrictions in spine movements such as bending and twisting and lifting weights.

For those in a desk job involving less than a 15 minute drive to work, they can resume work in about 3 weeks after surgery. For longer drives over 30 minutes, minimum 4-6 weeks is necessary to resume work.

Those in a job that requires physical labor might have to take a longer break and should consult their surgeon.

6. What is spinal fusion?

When 2 or more vertebrae are damaged and a lot of bone has been removed, the vertebrae may become unstable or go out of alignment causing pressure on the nerves and severe pain. A spinal fusion operation fuses adjacent vertebrae using bone pieces from the hip as a graft to bridge the gap. Plates and rods might be used to stabilize the spine and protect the graft while it takes up.

7. Is spinal surgery dangerous?

Most spinal surgeries are safe and patient recovers well without sequelae. The risk of paralysis, bladder or bowel incontinence is extremely low. It is advisable to discuss your concerns with the surgeon.

8. When will the stitches be removed?

The stitches will usually be removed a week after the surgery.

9. What is the cost of laminectomy and spinal fusion surgery?

The costs are highly variable in the US and UK depending on the center. In India, a laminectomy surgery costs approximately US $5000-6000, and a spinal fusion surgery costs $5000.