laminectomy

American  

[lam-uh-nek-tuh-mee] / ˌlæm əˈnɛk tə mi /

noun

• laminectomies
  plural

1. the surgical removal of part of the posterior arch of a vertebra to provide access to the spinal canal, as for the excision of a ruptured disk.

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laminectomy British  

/ ˌlæmɪˈnɛktəmɪ /

noun

1. Also called: rachiotomy.  surgical incision into the backbone to gain access to the spinal cord

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• laminectomies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of laminectomy

First recorded in 1890–95; lamin(a) + -ectomy

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

laminectomy laminectomies

If a fracture isn’t the problem but a misaligned disk is compressing nearby nerves, surgeons may perform a laminectomy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 11, 2024

In April, Swedish scientists published the results of an inquiry into spinal-stenosis treatments, examining nearly two hundred and fifty patients who had been randomly assigned to undergo laminectomy alone or added fusion.

From The New Yorker ● Dec. 29, 2016

But a popular addition to laminectomy is a so-called fusion, in which adjoining vertebrae are connected with titanium hardware, keeping them aligned and the spine stable.

From The New Yorker ● Dec. 29, 2016

A disc surgery for lower-back pain, called a laminectomy, costs Aetna about $6,000 in-network yet reaps nearly $120,000 for Bay Area Surgical.

From BusinessWeek ● Jul. 19, 2012

Pyle collects 52 cases of spinal disease and injury, in which laminectomy was performed.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)

An estimated 200,000 Americans now annually undergo operations known as laminectomies to correct this ailment.

From Time Magazine Archive

By contrast, laminectomies require ten to 14 days in the hospital, and the patient needs three to six months for full recovery.

From Time Magazine Archive