title: Radiological assessment of indications for surgical treatment of spinal metastases.
abstract: Background. The purpose is to assess the risk of spinal cord compression in patients with spine metastases using radiological data.<br /> Material and methods. We evaluate 103 patients with the thoraco-lumbar vertebral body metastases - 52 with neurological symptoms of spinal cord compression and 51 symptoms free. We measured the statistical relation between spinal cord compression, pathological fracture, angle deformity of the spine and metastasis location. We divide spine into 3 columns and named pediculum as the fourth. We used statistical multiple regression analysis. <br /> Results. The risk of spinal cord compression is depended on the location of the metastasis in vertebral body (p < 0,01). We found spinal cord compression symptoms in 25 out of 31 patients in group with pediculum involvement and in 27 out of 72 in group with other locations. It was highly statistically important (p < 0.001). In 45 out of 68 patients with vertebral fractures we found spinal cord compression symptoms (p < 0.01). We did not found statistical correlation between angle deformity and compression symptoms. <br /> Conclusions. The risk of spinal cord compression is higher if the metastases are localised in thoraco-lumbar part of spine and if the pediculum is involved. The pathological fracture increases the risk of the compression, too.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Ortopedii. Traumatologii i Rehabilitacji, Akademia Medyczna, Lublin.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mazurkiewicz
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Godlewski
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazurkiewicz