What procedure involves the partial removal of the lamina?

The procedure involving the partial removal of the lamina is laminotomy. In this surgical technique, only a portion of the lamina—plate-like structures forming the back of the vertebra—is removed to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. This can help address issues such as herniated discs or spinal stenosis while preserving more of the surrounding bony structure than a complete laminectomy would.

Understanding the purpose of laminotomy underscores its use in cases where minimal intervention is desired. This contrasts with other procedures, such as laminectomy, where the entire lamina is removed, potentially leading to more significant changes in the structure of the spine. Laminaplasty and hemilaminectomy also have specific purposes and scopes of removal, but they do not precisely match the definition of a partial lamina removal as specifically indicated by laminotomy.