Overview
A laminectomy is a surgical procedure intended to alleviate pain by removing part of a vertebra and resulting in reduced pressure on the spinal cord’s nerves. Usually, patients recover from this surgery free of complications and hopefully, free of pain. However, out of the approximate 500,000 laminectomy surgeries performed in the US each year, around 20% of the patients report persisting back pain despite adequate healing. This resulting condition is called Post Laminectomy Syndrome (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome).
Review the information below to learn more about the treatment options for this condition.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Treatment options may include:
- Epidural steroid injection
- Facet joint injections
- Fluoroscopically guided injections
- Interventional procedures
- IT pump
- Medial branch blocks
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication
- Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS)
- Physical exercise
- Platelet rich plasma (PRP therapy)
- Prolotherapy
- Radiofrequency facet ablation.
- Radiofrequency neurotomy
- Rehabilitation
- Selective nerve root block
- Selected nerve root injections (SNRI)
- Spinal cord stimulation
- Stem cell therapy
- Strength training
- Stretching
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms include:
- Lower back pain after surgery
- Neck pain after surgery
- Sharp or shooting pain in the extremities
DIAGNOSIS / TESTS
Diagnostic tests include:
- Bone scans
- CT scan
- Diagnostic spinal injections
- EMG
- EOS® imaging
- Reflex tests using small hammer
- Thorough physical examination
- X-rays MRI
TYPES
Common forms of Cervical Post Laminectomy Syndrome include:
- Postsurgical complications including infection, nerve injury, or an adequate healing
- Successful postsurgical recovery with new and unrelated spinal problem(s)
- Unsuccessful postsurgical recovery with continuation of the original pain
CAUSES
Causes & contributing factors of Cervical Post Laminectomy Syndrome may include:
- Anxiety
- Arachnoid inflammation
- Buildup of scar tissue
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Epidural fibrosis (scarring)
- Herniated discs
- Infection in disc space or epidural space
- Joint hypermobility
- Muscle spasm
- Nerve compression
- Recurrent disc herniation
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Pain from metal introduced during spinal fusion
- Pain from spinal structure changes
- Progressive spinal degeneration
- Sleep disorders
- Spinal instability
- Spinal joint arthritis
- Structural spinal column changes
- Surgical complications
FACTS
Post Laminectomy Syndrome is much more common among patients who are smokers. If patients stop smoking immediately after surgery, there is a much better chance for a pain-free, postsurgical outcome.
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LOCATIONS:
Gilbert:
3370 South Mercy Road
Suite 321
Gilbert, AZ 85297
Phone: 480-550-9393
Fax: 480-999-3375