What is the difference between a laminectomy and a laminotomy?
Laminectomy, laminotomy, hemilaminectomy, hemilaminotomy are all procedures that are performed by removing a portion of the back part of the spinal bone. These surgeries are designed to unpinch the underlying spinal nerves. The procedures differ in the amount of bone removed. Laminectomy and laminotomy are done to unpinch nerves on the right and left sides. The laminectomy removes more bone than a laminotomy. Laminectomy removes the entire lamina, while a laminotomy removes only a portion of the lamina. A hemilaminectomy or hemilaminotomy removes bone only on one side of the spine and takes care of a problem that is only on the left or the right.
