title: Two-stage multilevel en bloc spondylectomy with resection and replacement of the aorta.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report a case of multilevel spondylectomy in which resection and replacement of the adjacent aorta were done. Although spondylectomy is nowadays an established technique, no report on a combined aortic resection and replacement has been reported so far.
  
  
  METHODS
  The case of a 43-year-old man with a primary chondrosarcoma of the thoracic spine is presented. The local pathology necessitated resection of the aorta. We did a two-stage procedure with resection and replacement of the aorta using a heart-lung machine followed by secondary tumor resection and spinal reconstruction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The procedure was successful. A tumor-free margin was achieved. The patient is free of disease 48 months after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  En bloc spondylectomy in combination with aortic resection is feasible and might expand the possibility of producing tumor-free margins in special situations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, General Hospital of Braunschweig, Holwedestrasse 16, 38118, Braunschweig, Germany. t.goesling@klinikum-braunschweig.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gösling
authors.forename: Maximilian A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pichlmaier
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Länger
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Krettek
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hüfner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery*; D002813:Chondrosarcoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*