title: [Curative effect analysis of posterior decompression and internal fixation for spinal metastases epidural spinal cord compression].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of posterior decompression and internal fixation for spinal metastases epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) and analyze the related factors of postoperative ambulation function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data of 67 cases with MESCC who received thoracic posterior decompression and internal fixation in our department from January 2006 to December 2014 was retrospectively analyzed. Information about patients' age, gender, pathological type of primary tumor, Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score, pre-operative and postoperative visual analogue scale, preoperative Frankel grade, pre-operative and postoperative imaging characteristics (number of thoracic vertebrae metastases, location, compression fractures of vertebral bodies), time of movement dysfunction and survival was collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the follow-up of 67 cases, 57 cases were dead, 10 cases were alive, and the median survival was 8.1 months (1.2-91.9 months).38 cases (67%) died within one year, 50 cases (88%) died within two years. Visual analogue scale of preoperative and postoperative dropped from (5.67±1.67) points to (2.11±1.39) points (P<0.001), 38 (53%) patients' Frankel grade improved at least one grade. Among the 34 cases who were unable to walk, 15 cases regained ability of ambulation after surgery. The patients with KPS scores greater than 80 points and/or had preoperative ambulation ability, tended to have better postoperative ambulatory function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Posterior decompression and internal fixation for MESCC is effective, and can effectively relieve pain and spinal cord compression, improve neurological function and the quality of life. The ambulatory functional outcomes after surgery are dependent on KPS scores, the occurrence time of neurological dysfunction, preoperative ambulatory status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, the PLA 307th Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Beijing 100071, China.
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D004824:Epidural Space; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D050815:Fractures, Compression; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae