Laminectomy is an aggressive, complex operation that removes the entire lamina. It requires detaching the spinal muscles from the bone, as well as removing certain ligaments connecting adjacent vertebrae, which can sometimes make the spine unstable, requiring spinal fusion. Laminectomies are performed for very severe cases of spinal stenosis, revision spine surgery, fractures, tumors, massive herniated discs, and other complex problems such as spondylolisthesis. This procedure is often part of spinal fusion surgery, allowing the surgeon to be sure that the required implants and screws are in their proper places.
