Lumbar Foraminotomy
A foraminotomy is a procedure in which bone spurs, tissue, and scar is removed form the area where it is pinching nerves and the nerve sack. It creates a bigger hole for the nerve to leave the spinal canal.
This can be at multiple levels.
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After anesthesia and local numbing medicine is given, an x-ray guided incision is made on the low back directly over the areas of nerve pinching.
Special retractors are placed, muscle and tissue is peeled off bone to get to the area of interest. Bone and scar tissue is carefully taken off the exiting nerves to relieve the compression. The hole is made bigger to free the nerve.
The wound is checked for bleeding and the incision is sutured closed. -
Relieve pressure off the nerve in the low back that travel to the legs.
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Patients go home the same day after surgery.
Soreness from the incision site can remain for a week or two. Muscles can spasm from surgery as they do not like getting pushed around. Nerve relief can be felt within days.
Nerves can be finicky, and there can be periodic pain episodes that happen due to nerve irritation from surgery.
Return to work times vary, some people are able to return to light work 1 week after surgery. For those with a very physically demanding job, return to work may not happen until 4-6 weeks after surgery. -
Relieve leg cramping and pain by releasing the nerve pressure.
Although it may relieve back pain, this may not happen and should not be expected.
Numbness may or may not improve, and if it does it may take up to 18 months.
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There is no surgery without risks. They include but are not limited to: bad reaction to anesthesia, increase in low back pain, wound healing issues, surgical site infection, prolonged pain, nerve injury, creating instability in the spine, spinal fluid leak, and the need for additional surgery including fusion.
