A new surgical strategy for spinal metastases based on the prognostic scoring system is proposed. This strategy provides appropriate guidelines for treatment in all patients with spinal metastases.

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Object Opinions vary widely as to the role of surgery (from none to wide margin excision) in the management of spinal metastases. In this study the authors set out to ascertain if surgery improves the quality of remaining life in patients with spinal metastatic and tumor-related systemic disease. Methods The authors included 223 patients in this study who were referred by oncologists and physicians over a 2-year period. All underwent surgery. Surgery was classified according to extent of excision ranging from en bloc excision or debulking to palliative surgery. All patients had a histologically confirmed diagnosis of epithelial spinal metastasis, and an oncology specialist undertook appropriately indicated adjuvant therapy in almost half of the patients. Results The mean patient age was 61 years. Excisional en bloc or debulking surgery was performed in 74%; the rest had (minimal) palliative decompression. All patients considered for surgery were included in the study. Patients presented with pain in 92% of cases, paraparesis in 24%, and abnormal urinary sphincter function in 22% (5% were incontinent). Breast, renal, lung, and prostate accounted for 65% of the cancers, and in 60% of patients there were widespread spinal metastases (Tomita Type 6 or 7). The incidence of perioperative death (within 30 days of surgery) was 5.8%. Postoperatively 71% of the entire group had improved pain control, 53% regained or maintained their independent mobility, and 39% regained urinary sphincter function. The median survival for the cohort was 352 days (11.7 months); those who underwent excision survived significantly longer than those in the palliative group (p = 0.003). As with survival results, functional improvement outcome was better in those who underwent excision. Conclusions Surgical treatment was effective in improving quality of life by providing better pain control, enabling patients to regain or maintain mobility, and offering improved sphincter control. Although not a treatment of the systemic cancer, surgery is feasible, has acceptably low mortality and morbidity rates, and for many will improve the quality of their remaining life.

We have developed a technique for total en bloc spondylectomy through a posterior approach and now report our experience of 20 patients with a solitary or localised metastasis in the thoracic or lumbar vertebrae. There are two steps: an en bloc laminectomy, followed by en bloc resection of the vertebral body with an oncological wide margin and the insertion of a vertebral prosthesis. Pain was relieved in the 17 patients who could be assessed; 11 of the 15 patients with a neurological deficit were much improved, impending paralysis being prevented in 5 patients. There have been no local recurrences. Nine patients are at present alive with a mean follow up of 17.4 months.