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Spinal decompression is  a commonly performed surgery that relieves pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots  by removing whatever is compressing them: disc material, bone, or thickened ligament. It  just addresses  nerve compression, not the underlying wear and tear, so its main effect is relief of  nerve symptoms like sciatica or  neurogenic claudication.

MOST COMMON PATHOLOGIES ADDRESSED

1. DISC PROLAPSE – compressing disc alone is removed by conventional microlumbar discectomy / tubular discectomy / endoscopic discectomy based on size of the fragment/ patient factors / surgical experience of the surgeon .
2. SPINAL STENOSIS – compressing elements mainly hypertrophied lamina ,facets and ligamentum flavum are removed relieving the pressure on neural elements. Various types of decompressions include – Laminotomy, laminectomy , root canal decompression depending on the extent of removal of lamina or facets

This procedure can be done as traditional open / tubular / endoscopic procedure depending on the patient factors/ levels of involvement / surgical experience of the surgeon

CLINICAL INDICATIONS :

ELECTIVE:

• Disabling nerve pain or walking limitation that persists despite roughly 6 to 12 weeks (sometimes longer for stenosis) of non-surgical care such as physiotherapy, medication, and sometimes epidural steroid injections.
• MRI or CT findings that match the symptoms.

URGENT OR EMERGENCY :

• Cauda equina syndrome: numbness in the saddle area, new bladder or bowel dysfunction, or weakness in both legs. This needs surgery within hours, not days.
• Rapidly progressive weakness (such as foot drop).

Common procedures :