Laminoplasty contrasts with vertebral laminectomy in the amount of bone and muscle tissue that has to be removed, displaced, or dissected in the procedure. This is a procedure for the treatment of spinal stenosis by relieving pressure on the spinal cord. The procedure involves the cutting the lamina on both sides of the affected vertebrae and then "swinging" the freed flap of bone open thus relieving the pressure on the spinal cord. The bone flap is then propped open using small wedges or pieces of bone such that the enlarged spinal canal will remain in place.