title: Minimally invasive microsurgical resection of primary, intradural spinal tumours using a tubular retraction system.
abstract: METHODS
  This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Primary, intradural spinal tumours have traditionally been microsurgically resected following macrosurgical laminectomy or laminoplasty. We hypothesize that approach-related morbidity can be reduced with less-invasive approaches; we have therefore implemented a minimally invasive approach, with the assistance of a tubular retraction system, for microsurgical resection of primary intradural spinal tumours.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2007 to December 2009, 54 patients underwent surgery for a spinal intradural tumour. Of these, nine patients who underwent minimally invasive posterior unilateral transmuscular surgery using a tubular retraction system were included in this study. Resection grade and surgery-related complications were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All tumours were totally resected (verified by postoperative magnetic resonance imaging). There were no post-operative complications. Eight of the nine patients were mobilized on the day of surgery or on post-operative day 1. One patient was mobilized on post-operative day 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Selected primary, intradural spinal tumours can be safely and successfully resected using a minimally invasive posterior unilateral transmuscular approach with the assistance of a tubular retraction system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Oslo University Hospital-Ullevål, Oslo, Norway. danieldahlberg@gmail.com
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dahlberg
authors.forename: Charlotte Marie
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Halvorsen
authors.forename: Bjarne
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lied
authors.forename: Eirik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Helseth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome