Lumbar decompression is usually performed under general anesthesia, which means that you will be unconscious during the procedure and will not feel any pain while it is being performed. The entire operation usually takes at least an hour, but may take much longer, depending on the complexity of the procedure.
Spinal decompression
surgery is usually done through a large incision in the back. This is known as open surgery.Spinal decompression surgeries are performed in a hospital or surgery center. The specific details of the procedure will vary depending on the type of surgery you need. Most spinal decompression surgeries are major surgeries. In most cases, you will receive general anesthesia so that you don't feel pain.
This combination of gas and IV (intravenous) medications will make you sleep soundly. You may also have a peripheral nerve block infusion to control pain during and after surgery. As you age, the bones and tissues that make up the spine can wear down, which can cause a narrowing of the spine. The main symptoms of spinal stenosis are pain, numbness, weakness, and a tingling sensation in one or both legs.
Lumbar decompression surgery is generally effective in relieving symptoms such as pain and numbness in the legs. Decompression surgery (laminectomy) opens the bone channels through which the spinal cord and nerves pass, creating more space for them to move freely. Lumbar decompression surgery is generally only considered if non-surgical treatments for the lower spine haven't worked and the symptoms are affecting your quality of life. There is a risk of a blood clot forming after lumbar decompression surgery, especially on the leg.
Lumbar decompression surgery is performed by a neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon with experience in spinal surgery. Your doctor may recommend spinal decompression surgery to treat severe symptoms of spinal nerve compression or symptoms that don't improve enough with more conservative treatments, such as physical therapy. This study reviewed long-term outcome in an established cohort of patients from whom prospective outcome data had been collected before and after a decompression procedure. This study prospectively followed up a cohort of patients with signs and symptoms of spinal stenosis, who underwent decompression surgery to determine long-term outcome with respect to pain and function using visual analog pain scores, the Oswestry disability index, and form cut 36, a general health questionnaire.
Cancer in one part of the body, such as the lungs, sometimes spreads to the spine and puts pressure on the spinal cord. All subjects underwent posterior decompression surgery through a midline approach, 83% had bilateral decompression while the rest had unilateral decompression. The risk of death is higher for spinal stenosis, because most people with this condition tend to be older and have poorer health than people with a herniated disc. Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, due to hypertrophy of the skinny ligament and facet joints, is a narrowing of the lateral root canal of the spine.
As with all types of surgery, there is a risk of dying during or after lumbar decompression surgery, although this is rare.
