Minimally Invasive Tubular Separation Surgery for Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael De la Garza Ramos ◽  
Murray Echt ◽  
Yaroslav Gelfand ◽  
Vijay Yanamadala ◽  
Reza Yassari

Abstract Symptomatic cord compression affects approximately 20% of patients with spinal metastatic disease. Direct decompressive surgery followed by conventional radiation was shown to be superior to radiation alone in a landmark trial published in 2005.1 For radioresistant tumors causing high-grade compression, however, “separation surgery” followed by stereotactic body radiation therapy was developed. The main goal of this newer technique is to decompress and create a distance between the spinal cord and tumor to allow for safe delivery of radiation.2 This technique has shown to provide durable local tumor control, pain relief, and preservation of neurological function.3,4 In this study, we describe a minimally invasive tubular separation surgery technique used to treat symptomatic cord compression in a 59-yr-old man with metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma to T9. The patient presented with acute motor weakness and sensory level. A tubular retraction system was used to dock over the pedicle at T9 bilaterally and a posterior decompression with ligamentectomy was first performed. This was followed by transpedicular decompression and ventral removal of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Space was created between the ventral tumor and spinal cord to allow for postoperative stereotactic body radiation. The patient had a significant improvement in his strength and gait postoperatively.  Patient consent was obtained for videotaping prior to surgical intervention.

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 3244
Author(s):  
Jenny Pettersson-Segerlind ◽  
Alexander Fletcher-Sandersjöö ◽  
Charles Tatter ◽  
Gustav Burström ◽  
Oscar Persson ◽  
...  

Spinal meningiomas are the most common adult primary spinal tumor, constituting 24–45% of spinal intradural tumors and 2% of all meningiomas. The aim of this study was to assess postoperative complications, long-term outcomes, predictors of functional improvement and differences between elderly (≥70 years) and non-elderly (18–69 years) patients surgically treated for spinal meningiomas. Variables were retrospectively collected from patient charts and magnetic resonance images. Baseline comparisons, paired testing and regression analyses were used. In conclusion, 129 patients were included, with a median follow-up time of 8.2 years. Motor deficit was the most common presenting symptom (66%). The median time between diagnosis and surgery was 1.3 months. A postoperative complication occurred in 10 (7.8%) and tumor growth or recurrence in 6 (4.7%) patients. Surgery was associated with significant improvement of motor and sensory deficit, gait disturbance, bladder dysfunction and pain. Time to surgery, tumor area and the degree of spinal cord compression significantly predicted postoperative improvement in a modified McCormick scale (mMCs) in the univariable regression analysis, and spinal cord compression showed independent risk association in multivariable analysis. There was no difference in improvement, complications or tumor control between elderly and non-elderly patients. We concluded that surgery of spinal meningiomas was associated with significant long-term neurological improvement, which could be predicted by time to surgery, tumor size and spinal cord compression.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. E620-E622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Taghva ◽  
Khan W. Li ◽  
John C. Liu ◽  
Ziya L. Gokaslan ◽  
Patrick C. Hsieh

Abstract OBJECTIVE Metastatic epidural spinal cord compression is a potentially devastating complication of cancer and is estimated to occur in 5% to 14% of all cancer patients. It is best treated surgically. Minimally invasive spine surgery has the potential benefits of decreased surgical approach–related morbidity, blood loss, hospital stay, and time to mobilization. CLINICAL PRESENTATION A 36-year-old man presented with worsening back pain and lower extremity weakness. Workup revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung with spinal cord compression at T4 and T5. INTERVENTION AND TECHNIQUE T4 and T5 vertebrectomy with expandable cage placement and T1–T8 pedicle screw fixation and fusion were performed using minimally invasive surgical techniques. RESULT The patient improved neurologically and was ambulatory on postoperative day 1. At the 9-month follow-up point, he remained neurologically intact and pain free, and there was no evidence of hardware failure. CONCLUSION Minimally invasive surgical circumferential decompression may be a viable option for the treatment of metastatic epidural spinal cord compression.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athos Patsalides ◽  
Yoshiya Yamada ◽  
Mark Bilsky ◽  
Eric Lis ◽  
Ilya Laufer ◽  
...  

OBJECT Despite advances in therapies using radiation oncology and spinal oncological surgery, there is a subgroup of patients with spinal metastases who suffer from progressive or recurrent epidural disease and remain at risk for neurological compromise. In this paper the authors describe their initial experience with a novel therapeutic approach that consists of intraarterial (IA) infusion of chemotherapy to treat progressive spinal metastatic disease. METHODS The main inclusion criterion was the presence of progressive, metastatic epidural disease to the spine causing spinal canal compromise in patients who were not candidates for the standard treatments of radiation therapy and/or surgery. All tumor histological types were eligible for this trial. Using the transfemoral arterial approach and standard neurointerventional techniques, all patients were treated with IA infusion of melphalan in the arteries supplying the epidural tumor. The protocol allowed for up to 3 procedures repeated at 3- to 6-week intervals. Outcome measures included physiological measures: 1) periprocedural complications according to the National Cancer Institute’s Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events; and 2) MRI to assess for tumor response. RESULTS Nine patients with progressive spinal metastatic disease and cord compression were enrolled in a Phase I clinical trial of selective IA chemotherapy. All patients had metastatic disease from solid organs and were not candidates for further radiation therapy or surgery. A total of 19 spinal intraarterial chemotherapy (SIAC) procedures were performed, and the follow-up period ranged from 1 to 7 months (median 3 months). There was 1 serious adverse event (febrile neutropenia). Local tumor control was seen in 8 of 9 patients, whereas tumor progression at the treated level was seen in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary results support the hypothesis that SIAC is feasible and safe.


2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshihiko Kato ◽  
Tsukasa Kanchiku ◽  
Yasuaki Imajo ◽  
Kotaro Kimura ◽  
Kazuhiko Ichihara ◽  
...  

Object The authors evaluated the biomechanical effect of 3 different degrees of static compression in a model of the spinal cord in order to investigate the effect of cord compression in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Methods A 3D finite element spinal cord model consisting of gray matter, white matter, and pia mater was established. As a simulation of OPLL-induced compression, a rigid plate compressed the anterior surface of the cord. The degrees of compression were 10, 20, and 40% of the anteroposterior (AP) diameter of the cord. The cord was supported from behind by the rigid body along its the posterior border, simulating the lamina. Stress distributions inside of the cord were evaluated. Results The stresses on the cord were very low under 10% compression. At 20% compression, the stresses on the cord increased very slightly. At 40% compression, the stresses on the cord became much higher than with 20% compression, and high stress distributions were observed in gray matter and the lateral and posterior funiculus. The stresses on the compressed layers were much higher than those on the uncompressed layer. Conclusions The stress distributions at 10 and 20% compression of the AP diameter of the spinal cord were very low. The stress distribution at 40% compression was much higher. The authors conclude that a critical point may exist between 20 and 40% compression of the AP diameter of the cord such that when the degree of the compression exceeds this point, the stress distribution becomes much higher, and that this may contribute to myelopathy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 462
Author(s):  
Mohammed Abdul Alshareef ◽  
Gibson Klapthor ◽  
Stephen R. Lowe ◽  
Jessica Barley ◽  
David Cachia ◽  
...  

Background: Metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) is a debilitating sequela of cancer. Here, we evaluated various subtypes of posterior-only minimally invasive spinal (MIS) procedures utilized to address different cancers. Methods: Within this retrospective review, we analyzed the treatment of thoracolumbar MESCC treated with three MIS techniques: decompression and fusion (Subgroup A), partial corpectomy (Subgroup B), and full corpectomy (Subgroup C). Results: There were 51 patients included in the study; they averaged 58.7 years of age, and 51% were females. Most tumors were in the thoracic spine (51%). The average preoperative Frankel grade was D (62.7%); 69% (35) improved postoperatively. The patients were divided as follows: subgroup A (15 patients = 29.4%), B (19 patients = 37.3%), and C (17 patients = 33.3%). The length of hospitalization was similar (~5.4 days) for all groups. The overall complication rate was 31%, while blood loss was lower in Subgroups A and B versus C. Conclusion: Different MIS surgical techniques were utilized in patients with thoracic and/or lumbar MESCC. Interestingly, clinical outcomes were similar between MIS subgroups, in this study, with a trend toward higher complications and greater blood loss associated with those undergoing more aggressive MIS procedures (e.g., full corpectomy and fusion).


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