Etymed
laminotomy
Definition
Surgical incision into a lamina of a vertebra, typically to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves
Clinical context
A 45-year-old patient presents with severe back pain and neurological deficits following a motor vehicle accident. Imaging reveals spinal stenosis with compression of the spinal cord. The patient undergoes laminotomy to decompress the affected spinal segments. A 65-year-old patient with chronic neck pain and radiculopathy from a herniated disc undergoes laminotomy to relieve pressure on the compressed nerve roots.
Mnemonic
Laminotomy = Lamina +otomy (cutting) = Spinal cord decompression surgery