To relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots caused by spinal stenosis, tumor or injury, surgeons often recommend laminectomy surgery. Laminectomy means to remove or shave down parts of the vertebra called the lamina, which reopens the space for the spinal cord and nerve roots. The definition has expanded to also include connective tissue or tumors near the lamina section of the vertebra. Laminectomy surgery may be performed alone or as part of a more comprehensive surgery that may include a foraminotomy or arthrodesis.

Because of proximity to the spinal cord, laminectomies are usually performed using traditional open-surgery techniques. Depending on the patient's age and condition, laminectomy surgery can sometimes be performed using minimally invasive techniques.

Doctors most commonly recommend laminectomy for patients with severe spinal stenosis. For a general explanation of laminectomy and thorough information about what to expect, how and why it is done to treat spinal stenosis, please see decompressive laminectomy for spinal stenosis in our health information section.

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