Total en bloc spondylectomy for solitary spinal metastases.
We have developed a technique for total en bloc spondylectomy through a posterior approach and now report our experience of 20 patients with a solitary or localised metastasis in the thoracic or lumbar vertebrae. There are two steps: an en bloc laminectomy, followed by en bloc resection of the vertebral body with an oncological wide margin and the insertion of a vertebral prosthesis. Pain was relieved in the 17 patients who could be assessed; 11 of the 15 patients with a neurological deficit were much improved, impending paralysis being prevented in 5 patients. There have been no local recurrences. Nine patients are at present alive with a mean follow up of 17.4 months.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan.
K
K
Tomita
N
N
Kawahara
H
H
Baba
H
H
Tsuchiya
S
S
Nagata
Y
Y
Toribatake
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery