Approach
Posterior (back of the neck), biportal endoscopic
Duration
~1 hour
Hospital stay
Same day
Overview
Through two small portals on the back of the neck, a laminoforaminotomy removes the small amount of bone, disc fragment, or thickened ligament compressing a cervical nerve root. The disc is preserved, no implants are placed, and the natural motion of the neck is maintained.
Who it's for
Patients with arm pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness from a foraminal disc herniation or bone spur pinching a cervical nerve root, who have not improved with non-surgical care and want to avoid fusion.
Why patients choose this approach
- Two small incisions on the back of the neck
- No fusion and no implants, so neck motion is preserved
- Neck muscles are gently dilated rather than stripped
- Often performed as an outpatient procedure
Conditions treated
Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical radiculopathy, a 'pinched nerve' in the neck, produces pain, numbness, or weakness that radiates from the neck into the shoulder, arm, or hand along the path of the affected nerve.
Cervical Disc Herniation
A cervical disc herniation occurs when a disc in the neck pushes through its outer ring and presses on a spinal nerve, producing neck pain plus radiating symptoms into the shoulder, arm, or hand.
Take this guide with you
Scan with your phone's camera to open this page anytime, or share it with family helping you through surgery and recovery.
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Whether this procedure is right for you depends on your anatomy, imaging, and goals, and is decided together at an in-person consultation.