Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery - Foraminotomy
A foraminotomy is a type of spinal decompression surgery that is performed to enlarge the passageways that a spinal nerve root exits the spinal canal and reduce pressure or pinching on nerves that can causes pain. The procedure removes bone or tissue that obstructs the passageways.The neuroforamen are passageways for nerves between an upper and lower vertebra. In between each upper and lower vertebra is a disc. The height of the disc separates the two vertebrae and determines the size of the neuroforamen.
When ta neuroforamen pathway is reduced or obstructed pressure its placed on a spinal nerve. Symptoms can include pain, stiffness, numbness, tingling sensations, and/or weakness. Spinal nerves branch out to the peripheral nervous system therefore these symptoms may radiate to other parts of the body. For example, cervical root compression in the neck can cause symptoms in the shoulders, arms and hands. Lower back lumbar area symptoms may be felt in the lower back, buttocks, legs and feet.
Disorders that can cause nerve root compression include:
• Spinal Stenosis
• Degenerative Disc Disease
• Bulging Disc
• Herniated Disc
• Bone Spurs
• Spondylosis
• Pinched Nerve
• Arthritis of the Spine
• Sciatica
• Foraminal Stenosis
If you have a severe case of one or more of these conditions you may be a candidate for spinal decompression surgery. Foraminotomy is often combined with a laminotomy and/or discectomy procedure for nerve decompression.