Is lumbar laminectomy major surgery?

Laminectomy is a common but major surgery with significant risks and potential complications. You may have less invasive treatment options available.

How long does it take to recover from a lumbar laminectomy?

After a minor (decompressive) laminectomy, you are usually able to return to light activity (desk work and light housekeeping) within a few days to a few weeks. If you also had spinal fusion with your laminectomy, your recovery time will likely be longer — from two to four months.

What is instrumentation in back surgery?

Spinal instrumentation refers to different types of devices and implants used during spine surgery. When spinal instrumentation is used during spine surgery, the goal is to stabilize the spine in order to prevent motion while fusion occurs between two or more vertebrae.

What does instrumentation mean in surgery?

The expression surgical instrumentation is somewhat interchangeably used with surgical instruments, but its meaning in medical jargon is the activity of providing assistance to a surgeon with the proper handling of surgical instruments during an operation, by a specialized professional, usually a surgical technologist …

What should I expect during recovery from a laminectomy?

In general, here’s what to expect: After a minor (decompressive) laminectomy, you are usually able to return to light activity (desk work and light housekeeping) within a few days to a few weeks. If you also had spinal fusion with your laminectomy, your recovery time will likely be longer — from two to four months.

What is the best treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis?

Treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis varies, depending on the cause and severity of symptoms, as well as the age and general health of the patient. Treatments used include rest, antiinflammatory medications, cortisone injections, land and water physical therapy, and surgical decompression (removal of the tissues pressing on the spinal cord).

How safe is a laminectomy?

It can be safely said that laminectomy is quite a safe procedure and is not dangerous in any way when compared to some of the other surgical procedures that are done to other organ systems of the body. The risks that laminectomy procedure entails are quite minimal and do not last for long.

What is the cost of lumbar spine surgery?

Cost of Lumbar Fusion surgery – $90 K. My insurance, of course paid the U&C cost – it was $5500.00 to the surgeon (instead of the $30K billed) and $24K to the hospital (1 night) instead of the $60K billed.