title: [Sacral gigantocellular tumor treated with total sacrectomy and spinal-pelvic fixation].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Total sacrectomy with spinal-pelvic fixation is considered to be a successful approach to the radical surgical treatment of extensive sacral tumors, however, technically very demanding, thus only rarely reported in the literature. We presented a patient with sacral gigantocellular tumor managed successfully using this method but with certain standard operative techniques improvements.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 30-year old patient with a pronounced painful syndrome and sphincter disorders was confirmed to have sacral gigantocellular tumor affecting a greater part of the sacrum. Tumor resection was performed in the first act out off retroperitoneal organs (colon and blood vessels), sacroiliac joints were open by the ventral side, the L5 discus removed, the S2-S5 roots cut off. In the second act, performed three weeks later, sacrectomy was completed by the reconstruction of pelvic ring and spinal-pelvic fixation. Then, the standard technique was modified to provide additional spinal fixation. The results of the operation (duration, blood loss, postoperative deficit) were quite comparable with, and in some aspects even better than the results published in the literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total sacrectomy with spinal-pelvic fixation can be a therapy of choice in patients with extensive sacral tumors requaring, however, the multidisciplinary approach and a considerable experience with instrumental spinal stabilization.
authors: Vojnomedicinska akademija, Klinika za neurohirurgiju, Beograd, Srbija. milenkos@eunet.rs
authors: Milenko
authors: M
authors: Savić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018212:Giant Cell Tumor of Bone / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000601:surgery*; D012447:Sacrum / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*