Spine

Key Points

  • Lumbar laminectomy is a surgery on the lumbar spine (lower back) where the lamina, or bony roof of the spinal canal, is removed to relieve pressure on the spinal canal and nerves.
  • In this surgery, the spine is accessed from the front (anterior) via the abdomen.
  • Lumbar laminectomy is used to treat multiple conditions of the lumbar spine (lower back), including spinal stenosis, herniated discs and arthritis.

Explore Riverside’s Spine Program

Overview

This procedure removes the lamina, which is the section that sticks out on the back of each vertebra and covers the back of the spinal canal. The lamina covers the area where the nerve roots traversed downward and then exit the spine. Through the posterior (back) of the body, the surgeon removes the laminae of the impacted areas to relieve pressure on the nerve roots.   

What it Treats

Lumbar laminectomy is used to treat conditions of the lumbar spine (lower back) including:

  • Spinal stenosis
  • Arthritis
  • Herniated Discs

Anatomy of the Spine

Explore an interactive model of the spine.

Spine Procedures and Treatments

Learn about different spine conditions  

What Matters

Learn the important questions to ask when selecting a spine surgeon.