Laminotomy

Several conditions, like a herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis can place painful pressure on the spinal cord and/or the nerves that radiate from it. A laminotomy is a spinal decompression surgery, which involves the partial removal of the lamina, the thin protective covering located on the back of the vertebra over the spinal canal. This partial removal of lamina then creates more space in the spinal column, thus, reducing that excess pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots, and ultimately, alleviating the patient’s associated pain, weakness, and balance issues. A laminotomy may be performed with a minimally invasive approach using incredibly small tools through smaller incisions, resulting in less disruption of soft tissue, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery time. In contrast, a laminectomy entails the complete, not partial, removal of lamina in the affected area.

Cartilage cell transplantation, such as autologous chondrocyte implantation, is a technique whereby healthy cartilage cells from within your own body replace damaged cartilage cells, forming new cartilage in the affected area. There are variants to cartilage cell transplantation, but these procedures are recommended for young individuals with a single articular defect. It is usually performed on the knee joint but may also be used to treat the shoulder and ankle joints.