[wgreenlee]

#25194

Dr. Corenman,

If you undergo a foraminotomy procedure, should you still have extensive/severe stenosis in the area where it was preformed?

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#25195

A foraminotomy should decompress only the foramen. This will take some pressure off the nerve root but will still leave some distortion of the root as the uncovertebral joint spur will still be present. With a foraminotomy, the central canal is not changed in volume. Now if you had a foraminotomy and central laminectomy, the canal narrowing would also be enlarged so as to open the central canal.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

[wgreenlee]

#25203

So if you have a foraminotomy during ACDF it should open the foramina up from extensive stenosis? I guess the overall question would be if you had extensive stenosis prior to a ACDF then the level of stenosis should not still be extensive post surgery MRI.

Thank you for your input.

Bill

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#25204

This depends upon the goal of surgery. A foraminotomy opens only the back wall of the foramen. If there was preexisting central canal narrowing in addition, the surgeon should also consider a central decompression along with the foraminal decompression.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

[wgreenlee]

#25205

If the report says all nerve roots and Dura are well-decompressed….would that be a indication that you shouldn’t have extensive stenosis? If you have a section I could read that might stop my bugging questions.

Thank you again.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#25209

The surgical report can be inaccurate as while in surgery, the surgeon obviously thinks he or she has done the job well or would not have finished. Sometimes, the surgeon while in surgery can misinterpret the signs of a decompression and “miss” some compression of the root or cord. That is what a post-operative MRI or CT scan is all about. What does your post-operative imaging report note?

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

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