Laminectomy is an effective procedure for relieving pressure on spinal nerves, but during the procedure, many spinal stabilizing structures are destroyed even though they are not directly compressing the nerves (lamina, spinous process, interspinous ligament, supraspinous ligament). The reason for that is that these structures are "in the way," that is they block the surgeon's access to the spinal canal. In some patients, excessive spinal destabilization and muscle damage from laminectomy results in "postlaminectomy syndrome."
Laminectomy is a procedure that relieves pressure on spinal nerves, but during the process, many spinal stabilizing structures are destroyed even though they aren't directly compressing the nerves (lamina, spinous process, interspinous ligament, supraspinous ligament). The reason for this is because these structures "get in the way," meaning they obstruct the surgeon's access to the spinal canal. In some patients, excessive spinal instability and muscle damage from laminectomy can lead to "postlaminectomy syndrome."