What is foraminotomy?

Foraminotomy is a shrinkage surgery. This surgery is performed to enlarge the path from where the spinal nerve exits the spinal cord. During foraminotomy, spine surgeons exclude bones or tissues that block the way and shrink the spinal cord. They may also cause spinal pain and swelling problems. With the help of foraminotomy surgery, the pressure on these contracted veins is removed.

When is a foraminotomy needed?

Spinal column shrinkage or intervertebral foramen block due to blockage is called spinal stenosis. Various processes can block the intervertebral foramen and lead to nerve contraction leaving the spinal cord. Spinal stenosis can be a problem due to the following conditions:

Inflammatory arthritis in the spine, which may be the cause of bony spurs

Fall of the intervertebral disc, which may cause bulging in the foramen

Augmentation of nearby ligament

Spondylolisthesis

Cyst or tumor

Skeletal disease

Congenital problems

Spinal deformity is one of the most common reasons.

This condition of nerve compression can occur in any part of the spinal column. This can cause pain, tingling, and weakness in the affected limbs. If you have previously tried other treatments to get relief from this problem, but have not relieved them, you may need foraminotomy surgery. In its process, physical therapy, pain medications, and epidural injections are used.

Typically, surgeons may prescribe this surgical procedure as an alternative to relieve their symptoms. If your symptoms become more severe or if you are having urine-related problems due to your nerve, you may need an emergency foraminotomy.

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What do I need to know before having a foraminotomy?

Foraminotomy surgery may not be a safe option for everyone. Its treatment can be decided on the basis of a person's health conditions, other diseases, and medical history.

What are the side effects of foraminotomy?

Pain problems are quite common in the surgery performed. However, over time the pain will subside on its own and apart from this, you can also use painkillers.

You will be given a dose of anesthesia before surgery, which may have some risks:

Side effects of other medications or breathing problems

Bleeding, blood clotting, or infection

Potential risks due to foraminotomy surgery is:

Wound or vertebral infection

Spinal damage, weakness or pain

Spinal pain may persist even after surgery

Back pain may recur in future.

Before a foraminotomy surgery, it is important to talk to your doctor or surgeon about the benefits, potential risks and side effects.

process

How should I prepare myself for a foraminotomy?

Before surgery, The doctor will talk to you about your current health status and family history.

During surgery, the effects of certain medications may increase the likelihood of bleeding. In such a situation, the doctor will give you proper instructions about which medicines you should not consume before a few days of surgery.

Your doctor will also recommend a blood test to check how safe the surgery is for you.

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to medications such as local anesthesia or lidocaine.

You will not have to use any cosmetics, deodorant, or drugs before the procedure of surgery.

You should not smoke or use any nicotine-based products before surgery.

You will not have to eat or drink anything 8 hours before the surgery starts.

People suffering from diabetes need to take care that their blood sugar should be normal. If it does not, it can be recommended to control it with the help of insulin and other drugs.

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What happens during a foraminotomy?

The surgery process can be completed in one or more hours. You will be able to go home only hours after the surgery process is completed.

During the procedure of the surgery, you have to lie on your stomach side.

After this, you will be sedated with a dose of anesthesia. So, you do not feel pain during surgery.

The surgeon's team will also monitor your heart rate and blood pressure during the surgery.

Surgeons will make a small incision on the side of your spine where you will have pain or swelling problems. Then with the help of that incision, we will remove the affected bone piece.

Surgeons can also use X-rays and spine microscopes in the procedure of surgery.

Using the spine tool, surgeons will push the muscles behind your spinal cord to locate the blocked intervertebral foramen.

Surgeons will use small tools to remove blockages inside the intervertebral foramen. This blockage can also be a rotting or bulging disc of bone.

After this the surgeon will remove the tools and put your back muscles back in their place and close the incision with the help of sutures.

In some cases, surgeons may also perform laminectomy surgery for this procedure. It serves to remove part of the vertebrae.

What happens after a Foraminotomy?

If you have surgery on your neck, you may need to wear a neck collar after surgery. Most people are able to get up and sit 2 hours after surgery. However, you will have to move your neck carefully until a few days after surgery.

The risk of spine-related problems may increase in the future after spine surgery. If you had a foraminotomy and spinal fusion, there may be a problem in the spinal column above and below the fusion in the future.

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