Minilaminotomy as an alternative to laminectomy or microdiskectomy: ten years' experience

Minilaminotomy as an alternative to microdiskectomy or standard laminectomy has been performed at two community hospitals on 1000 patients over a period of 10 years. The operative technique, employing simple prone positioning, a 4-cm incision, standard instruments, X-ray guidance, a fiberoptic head light, and 4.5 x binocular loupes, has not changed since 1986, when the initial series of 200 cases was published. The overall results in 800 additional patients continued to compare favorably to all reported series of microdiskectomy: minimal blood loss, less narcotic requirement, fewer days in the hospital, earlier return to normal activity, no wound infection, and low rate of second surgery.