Cervical Post Laminectomy Syndrome

Cervical post laminectomy syndrome is a painful condition caused by spinal decompression surgery. Symptoms can range from dull to diffuse. Some patients describe the pain as numbness or tingling. Pain is the most common symptom, and may be compared to the pain experienced after surgery for cervical radiculopathy. A person may also feel tingling in the neck and arms. If the pain is severe, treatment options include radiofrequency neurotomy and TNF-a inhibitors.

Treatment options for post-laminectomy syndrome

Cervical post-laminectomy syndrome is a condition where the spine is damaged by a spinal surgery. Often, this condition is accompanied by severe pain, altered postures, and varying walking positions. Your doctor will likely prescribe a high-potency morphine-based pain killer to manage your symptoms. Further, he or she may prescribe a physical therapy program that focuses on improving movement and relieving pain. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may recommend advanced treatments such as epidural nerve blocks or platelet-rich-plasma therapy.

Cervical Post Laminectomy Syndrome

The surgical procedure that caused your spinal condition is known as laminectomy. Surgical procedures may result in complications, including narrowing of the spinal column (spinal stenosis), disc fragments, and pain. In rare cases, post-laminectomy syndrome can be caused by smoking or other problems that affect the back. In some cases, the surgery may not even cure your condition, and you may need additional treatments, including medications, physical therapy, and chiropractic care.

Patients who experience cervical post-laminectomy syndrome may also be recommended surgery to correct instability. This condition can arise as a result of trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and infection. Cervical laminectomy can lead to complications, but alternative treatments may also be considered. Non-surgical treatments include standard opioid and non-opioid analgesic drugs, as well as membrane stabilising agents such as Pregabalin. Some patients may benefit from ketamine infusions.

TNF-a inhibitors

In the United States, doctors sometimes prescribe TNF-a inhibitors to treat patients with neck or back pain. These medications, which block the inflammatory mediator TNF-a, are known to reduce pain and inflammation. However, studies have been conflicting in regards to their effectiveness in treating cervical post laminectomy syndrome symptoms. In the meantime, TNF-a inhibitors are available as over-the-counter medications.

The use of TNF-a inhibitors has been associated with a high incidence of herpes-related skin infections, especially zoster infections. Symptomatic relief can be obtained with an infusion of antihistamines or acetaminophen. However, TNF-a inhibitors have also been associated with increased risk of cutaneous infections. Infliximab is not recommended for patients with a history of zoster.

In animal studies, systemic application of anti-TNF-a antibodies completely blocked the nerve conduction velocity after the procedure. The results were nearly identical to the results obtained after application of retro peritoneal fat. In addition, a topical application of anti-TNF-a antibody prevented the reduction of nerve conduction velocity after cervical post laminectomy. The effect, however, was not statistically significant in a series of mice treated with anti-TNF-a antibody.

Cervical Post Laminectomy Syndrome

These results are encouraging. Anti-TNF-alpha treatment has been proven to improve cognitive and behavioral dysfunction. Moreover, it has also been shown to decrease inflammatory markers like IL-1b. TNF-alpha inhibitors have also shown positive effects on inflammation and pain in Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. It is important to understand how TNF-alpha works in the brain before considering an anti-TNF treatment.

Radiofrequency neurotomy

This procedure can effectively treat cervical post laminectomy syndrome symptoms without the need for surgery. The use of radiofrequency energy to burn off the nerves causes them to deaden, providing pain relief for 6 months to a year. The radiofrequency current is applied using a needle. The radiofrequency current then forms scar tissue along the nerve that causes the pain. In the process, it destroys part of the nerve that transmits pain signals. This procedure has several risks, including temporary nerve pain and numbness.

Patients can expect to wear hospital gowns for the procedure, and an intravenous line will be placed into an arm or hand before the procedure. A numbing medicine will be injected into the skin before radiofrequency needles are inserted. After the procedure, the patient will be taken to another room for rest. A soreness may be experienced at the injection site, but it usually disappears within a day or two. Patients should apply ice to the area three or four times a day. Heating pads should not be used to treat this soreness.

After the procedure, the patient experienced persistent numbness in the right middle finger, little finger, and index finger. He had a weaker right arm than the left. His thoracic area was also significantly improved. A cervical MRI revealed no residual hemorrhage or edema. Further, there were no symptoms of numbness in the other arms. In addition, the patient did not develop any recurrence of cervical post laminectomy syndrome.