Laminal fenestration for the treatment of lumbar nerve root foraminal stenosis

Abstract

A new technique is reported for the treatment of isolated lumbar nerve root foraminal stenosis. Nerve root decompression is performed via a 5-mm drill hole in the lamina immediately below the superior facet. This technique preserves spinal stability even if done at multiple levels. It also provides early mobility of the patient and subsequently shortens the hospital stay. The technical details are described.

Clinical Results of Intrapedicular Partial Pediculectomy for Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis

“…13 In their surgical technique, the drill hole made in the lamina was small (5 mm). A partial pediculectomy and facetectomy was performed through this hole.…”

Clinical and radiological outcomes of endoscopic partial facetectomy for degenerative lumbar foraminal stenosis

“…Traditionally, decompression with a spinal fusion is utilized as a primary treatment in patients with degenerative lumbar foraminal stenosis, even in the absence of a gross instability, partly because of the limitations of the effective decompression tools. To solve these problems, several authors reported that a paraspinal approach [21,27] and various minimally invasive techniques have been developed [15,22,24,29]. We performed endoscopic partial facetectomy (EPF) using an endoscopic osteotome for degenerative lumbar foraminal stenosis.…”

A less invasive surgical approach in the lumbar lateral recess stenosis: direct approach to the medial wall of the pedicle

“…They pointed out the importance of the height of the intervertebral foramen on plain radiographs in narrow lateral recess cases [11,38]. Since then several authors recognized and described lateral recess stenosis and lateral entrapment syndrome [8,25,26,31,37,40].…”