Compound osteosynthesis in the thoracic spine for treatment of vertebral metastases: technical report

Metastases to vertebrae often cause bone destruction leading to instability and neural compression. Anterior surgical approaches allow tumor resection and direct neural decompression. For patients with a short life expectancy, vertebral body replacement with methyl-methacrylate polymerized in situ c...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: PAIT T. GLEN, CASTRO IGOR DE, ARNAUTOVIC KENAN I., BORBA LUIS A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academia Brasileira de Neurologia (ABNEURO) 2000-01-01
Series:Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2000000100008
Description
Summary:Metastases to vertebrae often cause bone destruction leading to instability and neural compression. Anterior surgical approaches allow tumor resection and direct neural decompression. For patients with a short life expectancy, vertebral body replacement with methyl-methacrylate polymerized in situ can be used for load sharing in the axial plane. Screws hung from the rod into the corpectomy site are incorporated into the acrylic cement. The technique described in this article allows for immediate spinal stabilization and provides a protective environment for the neural elements. All the patients tolerated the procedure well and were able to ambulation without an orthoses.
ISSN:0004-282X
1678-4227