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Foraminotomy

A procedure to relieve certain spinal conditions at Laser Spine Institute

At Laser Spine Institute we use an Endoscopic approach to open up the foramen without the need for general anesthesia in an outpatient surgical setting.

Foraminotomy is a medical operation used to relieve pressure on nerves that are being compressed by the intervertebral foramen, the space in the vertebra where a nerve root exits the spinal canal. The term foraminotomy is derived from the Latin words foramen (hole, opening, aperture) and -otomy (act of cutting, incision).

A Foraminotomy of the Spine is used to treat the following conditions:

A foraminotomy is performed to relieve the symptoms of nerve root compression in cases where the foramen is being compressed by bone, disc, scar tissue, or excessive ligament development, and results in a pinched nerve.

During an endoscopic procedure, the surgeon places the first tube into a small incision. A series of tubes of increasing size are placed over this first tube, one at a time, to slowly create a small opening to the spine. That allows us to perform foraminotomies with minimal damage to the surrounding muscles. The muscles are pushed out of the way and are not torn or cut. The last tube is about 18 millimeters in diameter (about as big as a small marker) and through this working tube we insert the laser, camera, suction, irrigation and other surgical instruments.

Once everything is in place, the surgeon can begin removing the bone and tissue that is compressing the nerve without distress to the patient. Some patients feel immediate relief during the procedure as the nerve is released. When the procedure is complete, the tube is slowly removed, allowing the muscles to move back into place. Occasionally, a stitch or two is needed for the incision.

After 1 - 2 hours of monitoring, the patient (with a caregiver) is free to go. We generally encourage patients to take a long walk the afternoon or evening of their foraminotomy procedure. The patient then returns the following day for a postoperative visit to get clearance from the doctor to return home.

Advantages of our endoscopic approach:

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Laser Spine Institute offers various minimally invasive procedures to relieve neck and back pain caused by spine conditions and nerve conditions. Procedures offered include foraminotomy, laminotomy, endoscopic discectomy, facet thermal ablation, and fusion alternatives.