Cervical Laminoplasty

Your doctor will conduct a physical examination and discuss any previous treatment for the condition. He or she may also order an X-ray, MRI or other imaging exam of your spine.

Tell your doctor about any over-the-counter or prescription medications or herbal supplements you take. Your doctor may ask you to stop taking certain medications before the surgery to reduce the risk of potential complications.

Tell your doctor if you have a bleeding disorder. Share any known allergies or sensitivities to medicines, latex or anesthesia. Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or think you could be pregnant.

Follow any pre-op instructions your doctor gives you about not eating or drinking for a specified period ahead of your surgery. Call your doctor’s office if you are unclear about any instructions you receive.

You may be unable to drive or complete certain activities for a while after your surgery. Stock up on groceries and other household essentials ahead of time. Arrange for someone to pick you up after the procedure and help you while you recover.

Once you check in, we provide you with a private area to change into a loose-fitting medical gown. Remove any jewelry. We then take you to the pre-op waiting area.

As part of pre-surgery prep, any hair at or around the procedure site will be shaved. An anesthesiologist administers general anesthesia. Within a few minutes you should be unconscious (in a sleep-like state), so you are unable to feel pain and are unaware of what is happening during the procedure. We monitor your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels throughout the procedure.

You will lay face down during the procedure to allow your surgeon direct access to the back of your neck. The surgeon makes the smallest possible incision near the center of the neck. Then he or she gently moves tissues and muscles out of the way to gain access to the affected vertebrae.

For a posterior cervical laminoplasty, small cuts are made to cervical lamina, the bony roof of the spine covering the spinal cord. The lamina is then hinged open on one or both sides like a door. The affected vertebrae are repositioned to expand the spinal canal and held in place with bone graft or metal plates.

After surgery is complete, the surgeon closes the incision with sutures or surgical staples. Surgical bandages or dressings are applied as needed to protect the area.

This procedure typically takes one to three hours. Complex conditions may take longer, especially if combined with other procedures.

After the procedure, we move you to a recovery room where we monitor your safe recovery from surgery and anesthesia. You may feel groggy or “out of it” for several hours after you wake up from anesthesia. This is normal. Most people stay in the hospital for one or two nights.

Plan to rest for a while after your surgery. Full recovery may take six to 12 weeks or more. Your health care provider will tell you what to expect based on the surgery and your individual health situation. We may recommend you meet with a physical therapist to learn how to safely conduct daily activities while you heal.

Limit activities that include lifting, bending or twisting for several weeks. You may feel increased neck pain initially, but this should improve within the next few months. Your doctor may give you a neck collar to wear to help you avoid excess movement while you heal.

Take a pain reliever for soreness only as recommended by your health care provider.

Keep the incision site clean and dry to reduce the risk of infection or other complications. Your doctor will give you showering and bathing instructions.

You may be asked to return in around two weeks to have any stitches or staples removed. 

See your doctor right away if you experience new or worsening pain, a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, or any signs of infection such as redness or swelling at or near the injection site.