A laminectomy can be performed on all regions (lumbar, thoracic, cervical) of the spinal column to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or the nerve roots.

This procedure is also called a spinal decompression. Pressure on the nerve roots or the spinal cord can be caused by bony spurs or by a herniated or bulging disc. This pressure is often referred to as spinal stenosis and can cause pain and weakness. The pressure is relieved by removing the lamina as well as any other source of compression such as bone spurs, a herniated disc, or disc bulges. Decompression of the nerve roots and the spinal cord relieves pain and other symptoms.