Artikel
Management of spinal metastasis: Indications, strategy and technical considerations
Management des spinalen Metastasis: Anzeigen, Strategie und technische Betrachtungen
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Veröffentlicht: | 11. April 2007 |
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Gliederung
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Objective: Spinal metastasis represents a challenging problem in terms of patients selection and choice of the surgical technique. The metastatic spinal lesions mostly affect the vertebral body and pedicle. Management of spinal metastases remains controversial. The role of decompressive laminectomy without stabilization has been questioned. The involvement of Vertebral Body and anterior compression had led to an increasing attention to anterior decompressive procedures, reconstruction and stabilization. Indication and surgical strategy are based on the Tokuhashi scoring. Surgery will be palliative for a score between 0 to 8 and excisionnal between 11 to 15.
Methods: We present a series of 50 patients operated on for spinal metastasis with a tokuhashi score >11. All underwent a combined first posterior and second anterior approach for large corpectomy and circumferential stabilisation using pedicle screw fixation posteriorly and vertebral cage anteriorly with or without plating. Posterior stabilisation consisted of a short segment fixation one level above and below the metastatic vertebrae. Anterior reconstruction was performed in a video-assisted minimal invasive approach with an expandable vertebral cage to replace the vertebral body. Expandable cylindrical cages have been utilized successfully to reconstruct the thoracic and lumbar spine. Their advantages include ease of insertion, reduced endplate trauma, direct application/maintenance of interbody distraction force, and one-step kyphosis correction. The implant is filled with cement and usually associated to an anterior plate. All the patients had radiation therapy focused on the level of the metastasis. The morbidity, the hospital stay and complications are presented. Technical issues are discussed.
Results: The preliminary results support the front and back stabilisation in the treatment of patients with spinal metastasis. No significant subsidence was noted, and pain and functional scores improved in all cases. Overall survival rates were comparable to the series described in the literature; the post-operative morbidity and preservation of the neurological status and function were satisfactory.
Conclusions: The combined front and back approach to a good prognostic metastasis seems adequate and appropriate to ensure reliable, safe stabilisation and neurological protection for these patients during their survival period.