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Has anyone had experience with laminoplasty to treat cervical stenosis
Good day everyone. I have recently been diagnosed with congenital cervical stenosis. My spinal cord at C3 measures approximately 8 mm. My MRI results are as follows:
C1-C2: Unremarkable.
C2-C3: Unremarkable.
C3-C4: Central disk protrusion contacts and deforms the ventral cord surface, overall mild spinal canal stenosis. Mild bilateral facet arthrosis. Mild right foraminal stenosis from uncovertebral joint hypertrophy.
C4-C5: Broad disk-osteophyte complex and prominent uncovertebral joint hypertrophy, right than left, causing mild spinal canal stenosis without cord deformation. Moderate left and severe right foraminal stenosis.
C5-C6: Type I reactive endplate changes. Broad disk-osteophyte complex causing mild spinal canal stenosis with cord abutment but no deformation. Right greater than left uncovertebral joint hypertrophy with moderate-severe right and
moderate left foraminal stenosis.
C6-C7: Broad disk bulge causing mild spinal canal stenosis with cord abutment but no deformation. Left greater than right uncovertebral joint hypertrophy with moderate left and mild right foraminal stenosis.
C7-T1: Unremarkable.
My surgeon is suggesting a laminoplasty from C3-C6/7. He says my spinal canal is so narrow the Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) can barely move around my spinal cord. He says the lack of room is a constant attack on my cord.
In addition to the usual symptoms (hands and legs go numb/tingle), I have atypical symptoms that include dizziness, nausea, tinnitus, and blurred vision in my right eye. These atypical symptoms can be quite debilitating at times. I have a neutral neck which contributes to the stenosis. I have no neck pain.
Does anyone know of a good resource or have experience with someone who has had a laminoplasty? I can't find much in the way of discussions regarding laminoplasty on the internet, but according to my surgeon (in Seattle) they perform them routinely with good results.
Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!!
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My 48-year-old son had a cervical spinal cord injury at C6 in 2018. In 2021 he developed severe chronic neuropathic pain below his injury level. Doctors tried epidural steroid injections, two spinal cord stimulators, trigger point injections, nothing helped. 2021 he underwent a laminoplasty from c4-T2. When he awoke he was paralyzed below his shoulders, both arms numb and lost all function in both hands, Pain intensified to 24/7 constant agony. Diagnosed with adhesive Arachnoiditis all the way from c3 to L1. Neuropathic pain so severe he could no longer sit in his wheelchair and has not left his bed in almost 2 years. If you really need the surgery make sure you do your homework and get the best spine surgeon you can find. Dr Scott Falci at the spinal cord injury institute in Englewood Colorado is a very good choice. One of the top neurosurgeons in the country. If your neurosurgeon suggesting a laminoplasty has not told you about the risks of developing adhesive arachnoiditis, I would run run run away....
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1 ReactionThank you for responding and I am sorry to hear about your son. Did Dr. Falci perform the laminoplasty on your son?
Fortunately I haven't suffered a spinal cord injury, but rather cord compression which could lead to one.
My surgeon did mention a long list of risks but I'm not sure if arachnoiditis was one of them. I will definitely look into it. Thanks and God bless.
@wjh67 Was your surgeon suggesting only a Laminoplasty and going to leave the bad discs and osteophytes in place? I would certainly ask a question about that because bone spurs can continue to grow and the problem will still exist. If it were not for those degenerative changes, the congenital narrowing of the spinal canal might not be an issue. Laminoplasty does open that up, and with aging, most people develop spinal stenosis and that suggests to me that your stenosis may get worse with aging.
My primary care doc recommended I get several opinions before deciding on any spine surgery which is good advice. I had 6 opinions, the last one at Mayo where I had my surgery. The first 5 didn't really understand the problem because my symptoms were confusing. You may get different procedures offered and can weigh the pros and cons of each and can discuss each differing opinion with any new surgeon you see so you can understand why they offer their solution instead of another. Good surgeons expect that you will get second opinions and should be comfortable with that. They discuss all these cases at conferences anyway and should be current with new surgical treatments.
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2 ReactionsHi Jennifer. My surgeon says he will perform the laminoplasty as well as clean-up the bone spurs with foraminotomies. I have had 3 opinions including one from Mayo (just today) and they all agree with my surgeon's recommendation. I feel good about where I am... it's just frustrating there isn't much out there from others who have had the procedure.
@wjh67 That is great that you got an opinion at Mayo. I'm glad they all agree too. You just have to chose the surgeon you trust the most. My C5/C6 fusion was at Mayo Rochester with Dr. Fogelson and I think very highly of him. I miss being at Mayo because it is such a nurturing place, but now I hang out here instead! Right about now, there may be a nurse who plays the piano in the Gonda atrium.
There may be some more members joining this post to share their experiences. You can also search the word "laminoplasty" or "cervical laminoplasty" and see if you find it mentioned in other discussions where you may be able to connect and ask questions.
I checked your other post and see that you're probably at Mayo in Arizona.