🧠 Decompression [Neurosurgery Wiki]

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====== 🧠 Decompression ======

**Decompression** refers to:

> **A surgical or non-surgical intervention aimed at relieving pressure on neural structures**—such as the spinal cord, cauda equina, or nerve roots—by removing or reducing the source of compression.

===== 🔍 Indications in Spine Surgery =====
Decompression is commonly performed to address:
  * Lumbar spinal stenosis
  * Cervical or thoracic myelopathy
  * Herniated discs with radiculopathy
  * Epidural hematoma or abscess
  * Tumors causing mass effect

===== 🛠️ Common Decompression Techniques =====

^ Procedure ^ Target Structure ^ Approach ^ 
| **Laminectomy** | Spinal cord / cauda equina | Posterior |
| **Discectomy** | Nerve root | Posterolateral or anterior |
| **Foraminotomy** | Exiting nerve root | Posterior |
| **Endoscopic decompression** | Dural sac or nerve root | Minimally invasive |
| **Craniotomy for tumor** | Brain / cranial nerves | Intracranial |

===== 🎯 Goals =====
  * Relieve neurological symptoms: pain, weakness, numbness, or claudication  
  * Prevent progression of neurological deficits  
  * Improve function and quality of life

===== ⚠️ Potential Complications =====
  * Dural tear or CSF leak  
  * Iatrogenic instability (if over-resection)  
  * Incomplete decompression  
  * Postoperative infection or hematoma

===== 🗯️ Example =====
> “The patient underwent lumbar decompression for severe spinal canal stenosis.”