A laminectomy is a surgical operation designed to relieve pressure on nerves in either the back or neck. The operation is performed under general anaesthetic.  It is usually performed on individuals with rheumatoid arthritis or when an accident causes a disc to protrude from the neck.

If the operation is performed on the neck (a cervical laminectomy), a vertical incision, three or four inches long is made along the center of the back of the neck. The surgeon removes a small amount of bone to relieve the pressure on the cervical spine and reduce the patient's discomfort.