Unilateral laminectomy, what exactly does this mean?

[Betty8]

I saw a neurosurgeon today.  I was told I need to have a unilateral laminectomy.  Can some explain to me what this means?  I have not been able to find a clear cut description of this online.

[Betty8]

so is this better or worst than a microdiscemtomy?

[aleem]

Laminectomy is a surgical procedure for treating spinal stenosis by relieving pressure on the spinal cord. The lamina of the vertebra is removed or trimmed to widen the spinal canal and create more space for the spinal nerves. if u look at the anatomic picture of individual vertebra, in front there is the round or oval shaped body from which projects three horn like structures at the back. the projection in the centre is called spine which is connected to the lateral projections(called transverse process) by a structure called LAMINA. in laminectomy this lamina is cut and removed.

[Betty8]

L5/S1