What kinds of surgery are used for spinal stenosis?
Typically, surgeons use two surgical techniques for spinal stenosis surgery: • Decompression, where they remove tissue pressing against a nerve structure by making more room in the spinal canal (for the spinal cord) or in the foramen (for the nerve roots). Some common decompression surgeries are: foraminotomy, laminectomy, and laminotomy. • Stabilization, where they work to limit motion between vertebrae. Not everyone who has surgery for spinal stenosis will need stabilization, which is also known as spinal fusion. The need for stabilization depends mainly on how unstable your spine is.
