A diagram showing posterior laminoforaminotomy technique: A, the lamina and the facet joint are thinned with a power burr; B, laminotomy may be enlarged with a Kerrison rongeur; C, extension of laminotomy laterally with a curette; D, the facet joint is thinned laterally to remove about 50 per cent of the joint; E, the remainder of the facet joint is removed using a curette; F, laminotomy defect.