Post-Laminectomy Syndrome

A laminectomy is a surgical procedure done to relieve back pain and other spinal problems caused by spinal cord compression. The surgery involves removing part of a vertebrae to give more room to the nerves in the spinal cord. For many, the surgery goes as planned, and they are able to return to an active, normal life. However, some continue to suffer from severe back pain after the surgery, which is known as post-laminectomy syndrome.

Post-laminectomy syndrome is marked by continuous pain after undergoing a correctional laminectomy. The spinal problem can take several different forms including:
– A new spinal problem post surgery, unrelated to the one you had treated
– The original back pain returns after surgery, or doesn’t go away
– You develop complications after surgery, such as nerve injury, infection, or failure to heal

Post-laminectomy syndrome implies pain after spine surgery, and there can be a multitude of causes. You may have had a successful surgery, and have developed a new and separate condition. The surgery may technically have been successful, but your pain level remains unchanged. Or, you may have had a complication to the surgery, such as nerve damage or infection.

If your pain doesn’t go away after your first spine surgery, the physicians at the Interventional Spine & Surgery Group can accurately diagnose the source of your pain and administer more effective treatment, which may involve another surgery. Cases of post-laminectomy syndrome that are resistant to other treatments can also be treated with spinal cord stimulation.