Vertebral tumor resection

The posterior only approaches for anterior vertebral pathology are being used more frequently due to advances in technique and instrumentation. In particular, in the thoracic spine, the classic lateral extracavitary approach provides a generous corridor for vertebral tumor resection and subsequent central cage placement once nerve roots are sacrificed. 1) 2).

1. Hofstetter CP, Chou D, Newman CB, Aryan HE, Girardi FP, Hartl R. Posterior approach for thoracolumbar corpectomies with expandable cage placement and circumferential arthrodesis: A multicenter case series of 67 patients. J Neurosurg Spine. 2011;14:388–84. [PubMed] 2. Patchell RA, Tibbs PA, Regine WF, Payne R, Saris S, Kryscio RJ, et al. Direct decompressive surgical resection in the treatment of spinal cord compression caused by metastatic cancer: A randomised trial. Lancet. 2005;366:643–8. [PubMed]

5. Xu R, Garces-Ambrossi GL, McGirt MJ, Witham TF, Wolinsky JP, Bydon A, et al. Thoracic vertebrectomy and spinal reconstruction via anterior, posterior, or combined approaches: Clinical outcomes in 91 consecutive patients with metastatic spinal tumors. J Neurosurg Spine. 2009;11:272–84. [PubMed]

1)
Schmidt MH, Larson SJ, Maiman DJ. The lateral extracavitary approach to the thoracic and lumbar spine. Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2004;15:437–41.
2)
Snell BE, Nasr FF, Wolfla CE. Single-stage thoracolumbar vertebrectomy with circumferential reconstruction and arthrodesis: Surgical technique and results in 15 patients. Neurosurgery. 2006;58:ONS263–8. discussion ONS-269.