Understanding Lumbar Laminectomy and Discectomy Baltimore

Back pain is one the the leading causes of lost time from work in the United States today.  Problems with the spinal column can result in not only back pain, but also pain in the arms and legs when nerve structures connected to the spinal column are compressed by the breakdown of its physical structure.  The lumbar laminectomy and diseconomy Baltimore is an orthopedic surgery that is intended to alleviate chronic pain cause by structural abnormalities in the spinal column.  It is not difficult to understand how this intervention works.

Lumbar Laminectomy and Discectomy Baltimore MD

In order to understand how this operation works, it is first necessary to know that the lumbar laminectomy Baltimore and a discectomy are actually two separate surgeries.  In cases where it is appropriate, however, they are sometimes performed at the same time through the same incision.  The literal meaning of "lumbar" is "low", so these are surgeries performed on the lower part of the back.

Because there are many medical conditions and injuries that can impact the physical structure of the spinal column, and because the spinal cord is housed inside of the stacked vertebrae, it is common for sensitive nerve structures connected to the spinal cord to get pinched when the vertebrae break down or shift subsequent to an illness or injury.  The lamina is the flat part on the back of each individual vertebrae.  Sometimes, the removal of the lamina is sufficient to release the pressure on the impacted nerves and relieve the patient's chronic pain.  Removal of the lamina of one or more vertebrae in the lower spine is called a lumbar laminectomy.

Within the spinal column, there are fluid-filled sacs that sit in between each vertebrae to cushion them and keep them from rubbing together and compressing nerves and other parts of the spine's structure.  These are called discs.  An injury or illness can cause a disc to slip out of place.  This is another cause of nerve compression and chronic pain in the back, legs and arms.  When the offending disc is removed by an orthopedic surgeon, it is called a discectomy.