Foraminotomy

About Foraminotomy

Foraminotomy is a surgical procedure that enlarges the neural foramen, the small bony opening on each side of the spine through which a nerve root exits the spinal canal, to relieve pressure on a nerve that has become compressed by bone spurs, a bulging or herniated disc, or general degenerative narrowing. The surgeon removes a small amount of bone and any obstructing soft tissue at the affected level, widening the passage enough to free the trapped nerve, which typically relieves the pain, numbness, or weakness radiating into the arm or leg depending on whether the procedure is performed in the neck or lower back. Because foraminotomy targets a specific, localized area of compression, it can often be performed through a smaller incision than a broader decompression procedure, and in many cases does not require any spinal fusion, since it preserves most of the surrounding bone and joint structure. It is generally considered for patients whose symptoms clearly match a single compressed nerve level on imaging and who have not improved with an adequate trial of conservative treatment. India's spine centres perform foraminotomy using microsurgical or endoscopic techniques to minimize disruption to surrounding tissue during recovery.