Surgical Staging and Management of Primary Spine Tumors

Objective To improve the management and to evaluate the outcome of primary spine tumors. Methods Totally, there were 15 cases in this series, 8 males and 7 females. Ages were from 9 to 59 years, the means was 37 years. 7 cases were benign tumors and the remaining 8 cases were malignant tumors. A new spine tumor classification system (Weinstein Boriani Biagini, WBB) was applied in this study based on pre CT and MRI images. Four surgical procedures were applied to en bloc excision of spine tumors. They were (1) vertebrectomy in 4 cases, (2) corporectomy in 7 cases, (3) sagittal in 2 cases and (4) posterior arch in 1 case. Stabilization was achieved by bone graft and anterior or posterior instrumentation in all cases. Results All patients had a pain relieve, motor function was improved in 12 patient. Average length of follow up period was 4.5 years in benign tumor group, no recurrence was observed in all patients. The mean follow up time was 3.4 years in malignant group, 5 patients were absence of local recurrence and metastasis, one patient died of complication one year later, the remaining one had recurrence of lumbar vertebrae myoloma with deterioration of neurologic function, he underwent a second curettage with posterior stabilization. Conclusion The WBB classification system prove helpful in developing surgical treatment protocal for these primary spine tumors. Radical resection of primary spine tumor and reconstruction with anterior or posterior stabilization were acceptable and efficacious in management of primary spine tumors.\;