Post laminectomy syndrome overview
Ongoing pain after spinal surgery
The medical term ‘lamina’ means ‘layer’, and when used in connection with the spine (‘vertebral lamina’) refers to the flat section of bone at the back of each vertebra which encloses and protects the spinal cord.
A laminectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the lamina on one or more vertebrae to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and / or spinal nerves, or as part of the treatment of degenerative disease affecting the spine.
The procedure is carried out to relieve back pain and other spinal pain, such as neck pain, but in some instances patients continue to have pain after surgery. This is called post-laminectomy syndrome.
The term is sometimes used more generally to describe continuing back pain felt after any spinal surgery, and is also sometimes referred to as ‘Failed Back Surgery Syndrome’ or ‘FBSS’.
Causes of post laminectomy syndrome
What can cause pain after spinal surgery?
A number of things can cause the syndrome, including:
Possible contributing factors include:
- Disc herniation
- Spinal stenosis
- Post-operative fibrosis
- Nerve injury
- Infection
- Facet joint pain
Post laminectomy syndrome tests and diagnosis
Ruling out other causes of ongoing pain
Most tests carried out in the diagnostic process are to exclude other possible causes of the pain, such as infection, bone fracture, herniated disc/s or where previous surgery has involved the insertion of plates, screws etc. which may have loosened or broken.
Ready to take the next step?
Comprehensive pain assessments- Individual treatment planning
- Medication review and optimisation
