Neurological recovery following posterior decompression of spinal secondaries

This is a retrospective study comprising 45 patients who underwent decompressive laminectomy due to secondary malignancy in the spine. There were 31 males and 14 females. Two of them had no weakness, one was treated for radicular pain and the other for severe intractable back pain. Forty-three patients presented with weakness of the limb of which six patients were able to walk unaided, four with an aid, twenty four were unable to walk of which eleven of them were completely paralysed. Nineteen of the patients had urinary incontinence. Out of 10 patients in Frankel's D, 3 of them regained almost normal power post operatively and were able to walk without any aids at the time of discharge. There were 6 patients in Frankel's C and 2 improved. Of 17 patients in Frankel's B, 6 of them improved and were able to walk with walking aids. Only one out of ten patient from Frankel's A had showed an improvement. A total of three patients deteriorated post operatively and all of them presented with multiple level involvement. There was no change in the post operative status of the two patients who did not have weakness. Overall only 27% of the patient showed improvement following decompressive laminectomy.