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Cervical Laminoplasty (Visit this link)
On Tuesday, September 11 at 10:30am EDT, world renowned
orthopaedic surgeon Henry H. Bohlman, MD, will perform a cervical laminoplasty
during a live webcast from University Hospitals Case Medical Center in
Cleveland, Ohio.
For patients with painfully restricted spinal canals in
their necks, this procedure immediately relieves pressure by creating more
space for the spinal cord and roots. The technique is often referred to as an
"open door laminoplasty," because the back of the vertebrae is made
to swing open like a door.
During a cervical laminoplasty, an incision is made on
the back of the neck. A groove is cut down one side of the cervical vertebrae,
creating a hinge. The other side of the vertebrae is cut all the way through.
Then, the tips of the spinous processes are removed to create room for the
bones to pull open like a door. The back of each vertebrae is bent open like a
door on its hinge, taking pressure off the spinal cord and nerve roots. Small
wedges made of bone are placed in the opened space of the door.
At the end of the operation, the door of the vertebrae
swings shut, and the wedges stop it from closing all the way. The spinal cord
and the nerve roots rest comfortably behind the door.
Submitted by: AlexF
Hits: 39
Added: Sat Aug 18 2007
