Minimally invasive circumferential spinal decompression and stabilization for symptomatic metastatic spine tumor: technical case report.

Abstract

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. 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. T4 and T5 vertebrectomy with expandable cage placement and T1-T8 pedicle screw fixation and fusion were performed using minimally invasive surgical techniques. 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. Minimally invasive surgical circumferential decompression may be a viable option for the treatment of metastatic epidural spinal cord compression.