Etymed
laminectomy
Definition
Surgical procedure involving the removal of the lamina, the bony posterior portion of a vertebra
Clinical context
A 45-year-old patient presents with severe back pain and neurological deficits following a fall. MRI reveals a herniated disc compressing the spinal cord. The patient undergoes a laminectomy to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves. A 60-year-old male presents with chronic back pain and leg weakness. Imaging shows spinal stenosis. He undergoes a laminectomy to decompress the affected spinal segment.
Mnemonic
Laminectomy = Lamina removal to relieve spinal cord pressure