What the procedure is
A lumbar laminectomy removes a small portion of bone and thickened tissue that narrows the spinal canal in the lower back. By creating more space around the nerves, your surgeon relieves pressure that causes leg pain, numbness, or weakness. When appropriate, we use a minimally invasive approach with a short incision and muscle-sparing access; if a nerve tunnel is the main issue, a targeted laminotomy/foraminotomy may be performed instead.
What it can help with
Decompression is designed to ease leg symptoms that limit standing and walking—especially pain, heaviness, or numbness that improves when you sit or lean forward. Many patients notice they can walk farther with less discomfort and sleep more comfortably as nerve irritation settles.
What it treats
- Lumbar spinal stenosis from bone spurs and thickened ligaments
- Neurogenic claudication (leg pain/heaviness that worsens with walking/standing)
- Lumbar radiculopathy from crowded nerve roots in the canal or foramen
- Disc–osteophyte or facet overgrowth that narrows the nerve passageways
Who needs this treatment
You may be a candidate if conservative care—activity changes, physical therapy, medications, laser therapy, or targeted injections—hasn’t provided lasting relief, or if weakness or walking intolerance is progressing. During your St. Louis consultation, we correlate your exam with MRI findings to confirm the level(s) involved and determine whether decompression alone or decompression with stabilization is the safest, most effective plan.
The benefits
- Direct nerve decompression at the true source of symptoms
- Smaller incision and muscle-sparing techniques when appropriate
- Typically short hospital stay and a stepwise return to activity
- Improved walking distance and reduction of leg pain and numbness
- A tailored plan to preserve motion when safe—or stabilize if needed
How we can help as a practice
At Orthopedic Spine Institute of St. Louis, we start with a conservative-first approach and reserve surgery for when it’s truly appropriate. If laminectomy is recommended, we’ll explain the procedure in plain language, review alternatives, and map your recovery—from the day-of-surgery plan to walking goals, driving/desk-work timelines, lifting precautions, and therapy milestones. Our team verifies insurance up front, coordinates any needed imaging, and schedules timely follow-ups so you always know what comes next.
Ready to talk through your options?
Answer a few quick questions and we’ll route you to the right visit type. You can also call our St. Louis office or book online.
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