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Many people suffer from the pain of scar tissue in the back and often wonder how to remove scar tissue. A laminotomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that removes painful scar tissue.
Laminotomy for scar tissue removal
A laminotomy is an arthroscopic approach to opening up the spinal canal, and requires no general anesthesia. Because of this a laminotomy can be performed in an outpatient surgical setting. A laminotomy is not a laminectomy.
Scar tissue from back surgery can bind exiting nerve roots and sometimes even the spinal cord, causing back pain. A laminotomy is preformed to free these nerves and remove pressure from the spinal canal by increasing the amount of space available in the affected region.
Laminotomy is a Latin word derived from Lamina - the boney plate that covres the posterior arch of the vertebra, and otomy - an act of cutting, incision.
During the laminotomy if the ligamentum flavum has thickened to a point that it is compressing the spinal cord, contributing to spinal stenosis, it can be removed. This will open the spinal canal and release the nerve(s) relieving the pressure that’s causing the pain.
A similar sounding procedure is a laminectomy and is used in open back surgeries. A laminectomy procedure removes the lamina to increase the available space for neural tissues in the affected area.
Scar Tissue Removal Using a Laminotomy - The Procedure
A local anesthetic is administered to the patient and the procedure begins. The surgeon will start by making a small incision in the patients back into which he will place a round Depuy tube. Once the tube is in place a series of tubes that increase in size are placed over it, one at a time, slowly creating an opening to the spine. This process will push the muscles out of the way instead of having to cut or tear them. The laminotomy can then be performed by the surgeon with very minimal damage to the surrounding muscles and tissue. The final tube will be approximately eighteen millimeters in diameter, which is about the same size as a small marker. Through this tube the laser, camera, suction, irrigation and various other surgical instruments will be inserted.
The surgeon will begin the procedure once all the instruments are in place. Many patients will feel immediate relief during the laminotomy as the problematic nerves are released and the pressure is reduced. A patients back and leg pain is corrected through this process by decompressing the spinal canal. Once completed the working tube is slowly removed, which allows for the muscles to naturally fall back into place. Usually a stitch or two is required to close the incision and after one or two hours the patient is allowed to leave accompanied by a companion.
Most patients are encouraged to take a long walk the afternoon or evening following their procedure and will then return the following day for a post-operative visit to receive clearance from their doctor to travel home.
Advantages of having a laminotomy procedure for scar tissue removal
- With no general anesthesia, the procedure can be completed in an outpatient surgical setting with no need for hospitalization
- Minimally invasive laser surgery does not require a fusion
- High rate of success
- Patients quickly return to their previous activities with the short recuperation time
- Future scar tissue pain is reduced from minimal scar tissue formation