The size of the spinal canal (where your spinal cord runs) varies in each person - some people are born with wide canals and some have narrower canals. 

Individuals with narrow canals are more susceptible to spinal cord compression that can occur with acute events such as trauma or more chronic degenerative changes that occur with age. Certain patients with spinal cord compression from a narrow spinal canal may benefit from this technique which increases the space available for your spinal canal by opening up the "roof" (lamina) of the canal. This avoids a large fusion and preserves motion in the cervical spine.

Click here to watch a video about Cervical Laminoplasty