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| The Surgical Technologist | JUNE 2016 260 fusions patients are at higher risk for blood clots and infection, not only of the large surgical area, but also in their bladder or kidney. Blood loss, heart attack or strokes during this surgery is also common. Post-operation, the patient generally will remain in the hospital from three to four days, and it can take as long as two years for one’s back pain to diminish and function to return. An endoscopic laminotomy procedure use endoscopes and small access tubes called tubular retractors. Endo- scopes that are used for spine surgery are typically the size of a pencil (7-9 mm). The tubular retractor is inserted into the body through a small incision that splits the muscles. This opening is just big enough for the endoscope to fit through. Since the tubular retractor is directed straight into the affected area by splitting the tissue, a patient’s muscles and ligaments are virtually undisturbed. The laminotomy is performed upon immediately entering the spine. The risk of infection is extremely low as antibiotics are ran continuously with irrigation through the procedure. With the irrigation, bleeding also is limited. The patient generally is up and walking within a couple of hours after surgery, and usually goes home the same day. The improve- ment in the patient’s back and leg pain as well as function are immediate. Most of the patient’s preoperative symptoms are alleviated upon leaving the surgery center. A N A T O M Y O F T H E S P I N E Vertebrae are the 33 individual bones that interlock with each other to form the spinal column. The vertebrae are divided into regions: cervical (7), thoracic (12), lumbar (5), sacrum (5 fused into 1), and coccyx (4 fused into 1). Only the top 24 bones are moveable; the vertebrae of the sacrum and coccyx are fused. The vertebrae in each region have dif- ferent features that help them perform their own functions. The main function of the cervical spine is to support the weight of the head, which is about 10 pounds. The seven Back table set up for an endoscopic lumbar laminotomy Photo courtesy of Amanda Dowell, CST/Synergy Spine Center