Neurosurgeon
Neurosurgeon
Treatment / Procedures / Cervical Laminectomy
Decompression of the cervical spinal cord from behind. Removes the bony plates crowding the cord to relieve multilevel stenosis and myelopathy. Niceville, Florida.
Cervical laminectomy removes the laminae at the back of the cervical vertebrae, creating more room for a compressed spinal cord. It is the primary posterior treatment for multilevel cervical myelopathy.
Cervical laminectomy removes the laminae, the flat bony plates forming the back wall of the spinal canal, to create more room for a compressed spinal cord. It is the primary posterior treatment for multilevel cervical stenosis causing myelopathy, the cord compression that produces weakness, balance trouble, and difficulty with fine hand tasks.
Unlike laminectomy in the lower back, which treats nerve root compression, cervical laminectomy treats compression of the spinal cord itself. This is a more serious situation and warrants prompt evaluation, because the cord does not recover well from prolonged pressure.
Cervical laminectomy may be done alone or combined with posterior fusion when instability or kyphotic deformity is present. Dr. Enguidanos evaluates alignment carefully before recommending laminectomy alone versus laminectomy with fusion. He performs the procedure at HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville, Florida.
Once myelopathy is identified, surgery is usually the appropriate path because the spinal cord does not recover well from ongoing pressure. For milder cases without cord changes, monitoring and conservative care may be reasonable first.
When imaging shows multilevel cord compression and symptoms are present or progressing, decompression is recommended to protect the cord and preserve function.
The patient is positioned face down with the head secured and continuous cord monitoring in place. A midline incision exposes the back of the cervical spine. The spinous processes and laminae are carefully removed with a high-speed drill at each treated level, along with the thickened ligament behind the cord.
Once the cord is fully decompressed and free, alignment is assessed. If the spine is stable and well aligned, the wound is closed without hardware. If instability or kyphosis is present, lateral mass screws and rods are added before closure.
Cervical laminectomy is one of several cervical approaches. The right choice depends on your alignment, the number of levels, and the direction of compression.
Adds lateral mass screws and rods when instability or deformity accompanies the stenosis.
Every patient who walks through our door follows the same path. It starts with listening and ends only at surgery if nothing else works.
Dr. Enguidanos meets with you personally. He reviews your imaging, takes your full history, and listens carefully to your lifestyle, your goals, and what has and has not worked so far.
In-person with Dr. EnguidanosSurgery is never the first answer. Before any procedure is considered, every appropriate non-surgical option is explored — physical therapy, medication management, injections, and regenerative medicine.
Physical therapy, injections, regenerative medicineWhen conservative care has been exhausted and surgery is the right answer, Dr. Enguidanos applies thirty years of surgical depth. From minimally invasive procedures to complex deformity reconstruction, every level is handled.
Only when everything else has been consideredDR. STEPHEN T. ENGUIDANOS MD | SPINE SURGERY | NICEVILLE, FL
Your information is private and will never be shared.
DR. STEPHEN T. ENGUIDANOS MD | SPINE SURGERY | NICEVILLE, FL
Your information is private and will never be shared.