Canal Stenosis Surgery
Spinal canal stenosis surgery is usually a last resort for people who have already attempted conservative treatments. People who are considered candidates for elective spinal surgery have typically tried weeks or months of treatments — including options like rest, medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes — without finding the relief to engage comfortably in everyday activities.
If you are considering surgery to treat canal stenosis, it is important to be as educated as possible about your treatment options. The following guide to the surgical approaches and procedures available to treat canal stenosis can help you work closely with your doctor to make a confident and informed decision.
BEST Health System is a spine and orthopaedic outpatient ambulatory clinic. Our goal is to introduce modern medical technology into the healthcare industry. This way, patients can enjoy many benefits, including less scarring, smaller incisions, and a quicker recovery, all on an outpatient basis.
Types of Canal Stenosis Surgery
A surgeon may take different approaches to surgery depending on your specific type of canal stenosis. This is because canal stenosis affects everyone differently. Some people have their spinal canal narrowed by a bone spur, while others experience stenosis due to the thickening of a ligament or the bulging of a spinal disc.
Some of the most commonly used procedures include:
- Laminectomy — the removal of part of the vertebral wall, called the lamina, to take pressure off the spinal cord.
- Laminotomy — the partial removal of the lamina.
- Foraminotomy — the widening of openings in the spinal column to take pressure off nerve roots.
- Discectomy — the removal of part or all of a damaged spinal disc that is compressing spinal nerves.
All of these approaches are intended to relieve the pressure that spinal components can place upon nerve roots or the spinal cord. Performed as a traditional open spine surgery, these procedures require a large incision, overnight hospitalization, and a long recovery period.
Alternatives to Traditional Open Spine Surgery
Traditional open spine surgery isn’t the only option available to patients who have canal stenosis. At BEST Health System, we offer minimally invasive procedures to patients looking for surgery. Our primary goal is to help patients find the least invasive, most effective treatment option. Whether this means a combination of conservative therapies or one of our minimally invasive procedures, BEST is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about canal stenosis surgery with BEST.
