title: [Treatment of thoracic vertebrae tumor with posterior total vertebral resection and internal fixation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical outcome of posterior total vertebral resection in treating thoracic vertebrae tumor in order to provide a safe and effective method in rebuilding spine stability.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2002.1 to 2007.12, 18 patients with thoracic spine tumor underwent posterior total vertebral resection and internal fixation. Among the patients, 10 patients were male and 8 patients were female, ranging in age from 45 to 78 years, with an average of 56 years. The course of the diseases ranged from 2 to 13 months. After the operation, the tumor reccurence was monitored by X-ray, and the tumor markers were detected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the patients were followed up for a period ranging from 12 to 60 months, averaged 29 months. All the patients showed a postoperative neurologic improvement, as well as showed radiographic evidence of solid fusion in the follow-up examinations during 3 to 9 months, with an average of (8 +/- 1.4) months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Posterior total vertebral resection for the treatment of thoracic spine tumor is safe and effective.
authors.affiliation: The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan 528000, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xin-jian
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xu-qiang
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Hong-ye
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Rui-hui
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome