A. A laminectomy is an aggressive operation where the entire lamina or back side of the spine is removed. It is performed for very severe cases of spinal stenosis, revision spine surgery, fractures, tumors, massive herniated discs, and other problems such as a spondylolisthesis. Laminotomy surgery accesses the spinal canal through a small opening in the lamina on the back of the spine in order to remove abnormal tissue, bone spurs or a herniated disc causing pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerves, often caused by spinal stenosis or a herniated intervertebral disc.
