• Home
  • About Us
  • Patient Information
    • Testimonials
    • Patient Forms
  • Physicians
    • Refer a Patient
    • LinkedIn
    • Phone
    • YouTube

Texas Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery | Dr. Shaad Bidiwala

Best Dallas Spine Surgeon

  • Conditions
    • Do I Really Need Spine Surgery?
    • Cervical Disc Herniations
    • Lumbar Disc Herniations
    • Lumbar Instability
    • Lumbar Fractures
    • Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
  • Procedures
    • Nonsurgical Treatments
    • ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion)
    • Kyphoplasty
    • Lumbar Laminectomy
    • LMD (Lumbar Microdiscectomy)
    • Lumbar Interbody Fusion
      • ALIF (Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion)
      • PLIF (Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion)
      • TLIF (Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion)
      • XLIF (Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion)
    • Minimally Invasive Instrumentation (Screws & Rods)
    • PLF (Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion)
  • Technologies
    • Technology for Cervical Disc Herniations
    • Technology for Compression Fractures
    • Technology for Lumbar Stenosis
    • Technology for Lumbar Instability
    • Technology for Lumbar Disc Herniations
  • Testimonials
  • News

Lumbar Laminectomy

Quick Facts

Possible Symptoms

  • Leg pain, numbness, and/or weakness
  • Bowel or bladder incontinence
  • Worse with standing or walking
  • Better with sitting or leaning forward

Typical X-Ray Findings

  • Narrow spinal canal with crowded nerve roots (MRI, CT myelogram).

Average Procedure Time

  • 1.5 hours

Average Recovery Time

  • Home the same or next day
  • Off work 2-8 weeks, depending on duties

Postperative Limitations

  • No bending, twisting, lifting, or strenuous exercises (8 weeks)
  • No driving while on narcotics

The Procedure

Laminectomies are performed via posterior approaches,that is, from behind, whether they are in the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine.  An incision is made over the affected area, and  bone is removed until the ligaments come into view.  The ligaments are then carefully removed until the nerve roots and the thecal sac containing them are fully exposed and decompressed.

Laminectomy

If a disc herniation is contributing to the narrowing of the spinal canal, a lumbar microdiscectomy may be performed after the laminectomy is complete.

Traditional Laminectomy vs. Minimally Invasive Laminectomy

LL The Old Way

An incision is made in the midline. Muscle is burned and then peeled off of enough of the spine in order to expose the bone that needs to be removed. A spiked retractor holds the muscle off of the bone while the laminectomy is performed.

LL The New Way

An incision is made 1-2 centimeters off of the midline. Muscle bundles are separated bluntly (with a gloved finger) through natural tissue planes in order to place a fiberoptically lit tubular retractor. The tubular retractor is angled in order to view and remove bone and ligaments causing nerve root compression on both sides.

DALLAS OFFICE

Mockingbird Station
6080 N Central Expressway
Suite #150
Dallas, TX 75206
United States

OFFICE LOCATION DETAILS

We sit behind the Beeman Hotel.  Please park in garage on Level 4.  Elevator access available.  We are the first office on the main floor.

DISCLAIMER

The content on this page is for informational purposes only, and is in no way intended to be medical advice. There is no substitute for a face-to-face evaluation by your physician or another qualified practitioner. As always, if you have an emergency, call 9-1-1, or go to the nearest emergency department.

Copyright © 2025 · Shaad Bidiwala MD PA | All Rights Reserved