Cervical Laminoplasty
If you have pinched nerves or a compressed spinal cord, getting treatment as soon as possible can help prevent loss of spinal cord function. A cervical laminoplasty is a surgical solution to treat nerve pressure from narrow spinal canals. This specialized procedure is different from traditional spinal fusion because it is designed to help maintain neck mobility while relieving spinal cord compression.
Rojeh Melikian, M.D., is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon in Southern California who specializes in cervical laminoplasty. He uses minimally invasive techniques to treat cervical spine conditions while preserving neck motion, so you can get back to doing the things you love.
What Is a Cervical Laminoplasty Procedure?
Cervical laminoplasty relieves pressure on your nerves and spinal cord by opening the spinal canal to create more space for the spinal cord. This surgery treats conditions like multilevel cervical stenosis and cervical myelopathy without fusing the bones. The vertebrae remain separate, which helps preserve mobility in the neck.
A trained surgeon accesses the spinal canal by making an incision above the affected lamina, then cutting the lamina bone. They may use an open-door technique to cut the lamina on one side of the bone or a French-door technique to cut the lamina down the middle. A bone graft or metal plates hold this hinge open, opening the spinal canal. During this surgery, you can also get a cervical foraminotomy to decompress nerve roots for pain relief.
Laminoplasty as an Alternative to Cervical Fusion
Besides laminoplasty, many surgical options are available to alleviate pressure on the spinal cord, including anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) and cervical laminectomy and fusion. Each approach offers distinct benefits depending on patient needs. Cervical laminoplasty is a motion-preserving cervical surgery designed to treat multilevel stenosis and myelopathy while aiming to maintain neck flexibility.
ACDF stabilizes the spine by uniting at least two vertebrae to create one solid bone, which is beneficial for certain conditions but reduces motion at the fused levels. A laminectomy with fusion removes portions of the vertebrae to create space for the spinal cord and adds stabilization through fusion.
For patients where motion preservation is a priority, cervical laminoplasty offers an alternative. The open-door and French-door techniques widen the spinal canal without fusing bones or disrupting supporting structures. Many patients maintain good neck motion after the procedure.
Why Choose Rojeh Melikian, M.D.?
Dr. Rojeh Melikian is a Harvard- and Emory-trained, board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive surgery for cervical stenosis. When you choose our private medical practice, you’ll benefit from individualized care and compassionate treatment.
Schedule a Consultation to Discuss Your Condition Today
If you are looking into surgery to treat cervical myelopathy, a cervical laminoplasty from Dr. Rojeh Melikian may help alleviate the pressure on your spinal cord. Talk to our medical team to discuss your options and find the right treatment option for you.
Contact us online or call 949-806-6946 to schedule an in person appointment at one of our locations in Marina del Rey, Los Angeles, or Newport Beach, or a virtual consultation via video or phone. You can also turn to Dr. Melikian for a second opinion on spine surgery to assist with your choice.