title: Modified total en bloc spondylectomy for thoracolumbar spinal tumors via a single posterior approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to describe our surgical management with a modified total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) and to evaluate the clinical effects in patients with thoracolumbar tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen consecutive patients with thoracolumbar neoplasms underwent a modified TES via single posterior approach followed by dorsoventral reconstruction from December 2008 to July 2011. Details of the modified technique were described and the patients' clinical information was retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvements in neurological function were achieved in most of the patients. Local pain or radicular leg pain was relieved postoperatively. The mean operation time was 7.2 h, with an average blood loss of 2,300 ml. No major complications, instrumentation failure or local recurrence was found at the final follow-up. Five patients died of the disease during mean 14-month (3.0-23) follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modified TES with a single posterior approach is feasible, safe and effective for thoracolumbar spine tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Institute of Spinal Cord Injury, Sun Yat-sen University, 107 Yanjiang Xi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510120, People's Republic of China. hakkahuanglin@gmail.com
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Keng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ji-Chao
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hui-Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome