Nearly 80% of people will, at some point during their lifetime, suffer from back pain. Most are traced to degenerative problems and injury, but tumors develop in and around the spine, too. Learn about what types of tumors exist and treatments here.
Lateral Extracavitary Corpectomy for Spine Tumors is Effective & Safe
A patient presented with persistent, progressive back pain unrelated to level of activity and refractory to medication. An X-ray and MRI revealed the presence of a tumor on his spine. To stabilize the spine and resect the tumor, Dr. Benjamin Cohen and Dr. Marc Agulnick performed a lateral extracavitary corpectomy — which allows for the simultaneous exposure of the posterior bony elements and anterior vertebral column through the same, small incision.
This minimally invasive procedure is a technically challenging surgery requiring extraordinary skill, experience and thorough knowledge of the thoracic and retroperitoneal anatomy, but allows the surgeon to access the anterior lateral aspects of the spine and dura without exposing the anterior thoracic or abdominal cavity, and without the need for a much lengthier and involved two-stage procedure. After stabilizing the spine posteriorly with pedicle screws and hooks linked together with rods on either side of the spinal column, they accessed the front of the spine by resecting a section of the posterior rib on one side. Through that one small portal, the diseased vertebra was removed, the stabilizing instrumentation was affixed, and an expandable, titanium mesh cage filled with the resected rib was placed to produce a bone graft, facilitate spinal fusion and create a new, cancer-free "vertebra."
Full text of this article can be found on pp 7-8 of the Fall 2010 issue of Winthrop University Hospital's Progressive Neuroscience
You Might Also Enjoy...
Nearly 80% of people will, at some point during their lifetime, suffer from back pain. Most are traced to degenerative problems and injury, but tumors develop in and around the spine, too. Learn about what types of tumors exist and treatments here.
If you’re one of the millions affected by lower back or neck pain, you may have spinal stenosis. But did you know you could also be suffering from it if you have leg cramps, tingling, and numbness? Learn more about symptoms and treatment here.
Scoliosis causes spinal deformity and pain, but it can also fly under the radar, symptomless. Whether you’re a teen or an adult, multiple effective treatments exist that bring relief, from medications to surgical interventions.
When spine surgery is performed using minimally invasive techniques as opposed to traditional ones, you’re spared from pain, lengthy recovery time, and more. Learn about the many benefits of this advanced surgical modality here.
There’s no such thing as garden variety spinal fractures. Usually the result of serious trauma, they can also be caused by chronic conditions like osteoporosis. Learn about different types of fractures and the range of effective treatments for them.
Scoliosis causes your spine to curve and can emerge in adolescence or adulthood. Some sufferers need no treatment, while others might require surgical intervention. Learn to spot obvious and subtle scoliosis symptoms to better understand it.