Whereas laminectomies remove the entire lamina, a laminotomy is done when only a portion of the lamina needs to be excised in order to remove material that is compressing nerve roots.

What is a laminoplasty versus a laminectomy or laminotomy? A laminoplasty will reshape a vertebral lamina, a laminectomy will remove the lamina, and a laminotomy will make a small opening in the ...