Total spondylectomy for primary malignant, aggressive benign, and solitary metastatic bone tumors of the thoracolumbar spine

The records of 14 patients with malignant or aggressive benign vertebral tumors of the thoracolumbar spine who underwent total spondylectomy (TS) were evaluated retrospectively. Total spondylectomy was performed by bisecting the affected vertebra through the pedicle using fine threadwire saws and removing the vertebra en bloc through the posterior procedure alone or the one-stage anteroposterior combined procedure. Remarkable pain relief and ambulation after surgery were achieved in all 14 patients. No serious complications occurred. Nerve roots were sacrificed in seven cases. A marginal surgical margin was achieved in 10 cases and an intralesional surgical margin was achieved in four. At the site of the osteotomized pedicle, the surgical margin was marginal, with the possibility of tumor-cell contamination in 10 cases. Local recurrence was found in three cases of posterior total spondylectomy at 0.3 to 3.5 years (mean, 3.2 years) follow-up evaluation at the other site of the osteotomized pedicle. These results suggest that this type of total spondylectomy is effective in controlling local recurrence without incurring major complications and is a clinically useful procedure.