Foraminotomy

A foraminotomy is a surgical procedure. It enlarges the area around one of the compressed nerves in your spinal column. Your spinal column is made up of a chain of bones called vertebrae. The intervertebral disks sit in between vertebra and act as a cushion. Your spinal column houses your spinal cord and helps protect it from injury. The spinal cord sends sensory information from the body to the brain. The spinal cord also sends motor commands from the brain to the body. Nerves spread out from the spinal cord, sending and receiving this information. They exit the spinal column through small holes (intervertebral foramen) that lie between the vertebrae.
Sometimes these openings can become too small. When that happens, the compressed nerve can cause symptoms such as pain, tingling in the arms and legs, and weakness. The exact symptoms depend on the location of the compressed nerve along the spinal column. For example, a compressed nerve in the neck may lead to neck pain and tingling and weakness in the hand and arm. During your foraminotomy, your surgeon will make a cut (incision) on your back or neck and expose the affected vertebra. Then they can surgically widen your intervertebral foramen, removing whatever blockages are present.

What are the risks of a foraminotomy?

Foraminotomy is successful in most people, but complications can occasionally happen. Most of these are rare. Some possible complications include:

• Infection
• Too much blood loss
• Nerve damage
• Damage to the spinal cord
• Stroke
• Complications from anesthesia
• Symptoms and signs that fail to improve
• The need for more surgery