Laminoplasty Specialist

Houtan A. Taba, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon & Spine Surgeon located in Houston, TX & Pearland, TX

Chronic neck pain can affect every aspect of your life, from your ability to work to enjoying the time you spend with loved ones. Dedicated to providing all possible treatment options to alleviate your pain, board-certified orthopedic surgeon Houtan Taba, MD, offers many innovative spine procedures not offered by other surgeons at Fondren, including laminoplasty. To learn more about laminoplasty, call the office in the Texas Medical Center area of Houston or Pearland, Texas, or book online today.

Laminoplasty Q&A

What is laminoplasty?

A laminoplasty is a surgical procedure aimed at reducing pressure on the spinal canal and nerves in the neck to alleviate pain and improve quality of life.

Am I a good candidate for a laminoplasty?

Dr. Taba determines if you’re a good candidate for a laminoplasty during a consultation. The procedure may be recommended if your spinal cord compression, a condition referred to as myelopathy, is causing severe symptoms such as:

Muscle weakness
Difficulty walking
Numbness in the arms or legs
Impaired bowel or bladder control

Cervical spinal stenosis is a condition that causes narrowing of the spinal canal and places pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. This condition generally develops due to degenerative changes that occur in your spine as you get older, and symptoms tend to worsen over time.

If you have cervical spinal stenosis and your symptoms are severe and debilitating, Dr. Taba may be able to help.

What can I expect during a laminoplasty?

Dr. Taba reviews the specifics of your laminoplasty during your surgical consultation so you know how to prepare, what to expect during the procedure, and the recovery process. Due to the nature of the procedure, Dr. Taba performs the laminoplasty under general anesthesia.

In most cases, Dr. Taba makes an incision using an operating microscope and very fine surgical instruments in the back of your neck. He then partially cuts through the bone on both sides of your spinal canal, creating a hinge on one side and a small opening on the other to relieve the pressure.

Dr. Taba then places a spacer, which may be made of bone, metal, or a special plastic material, to keep the space open.

What happens after my laminoplasty?

After your laminoplasty, you may need to spend a few days in the hospital for monitoring. Once you’re discharged, Dr. Taba recommends you wear a soft neck collar and refers you to physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around your neck.

You may experience a lessening of your symptoms within months of the procedure. For most patients, recovery time takes 6-18 months.

To learn more about laminoplasty and how it may alleviate your chronic pain, contact the office of Houtan Taba, MD, by phone or online today.

What we offer