[Surgical treatment of neoplasm metastasis to the spine]

The paper presents the treatment mode of metastasis to the spine. Between 2000 and 2002 5 cases (3 men and 2 women) with metastasis to the lumbar spine were treated surgically. The metastasis derived from primary foci in the prostate (3 cases), in the breast (1 case) and in the kidney (1 case). The average age of the patients was 65 years (ranging from 53 to 74 years). In all cases a vertebrectomy was performed through an anterior approach. Titanium baskets filled with bone cement were implemented. The spine was stabilized using anterior Kaneda instrumentation (3 cases) and the posterior Omega instrumentation (2 cases). This mode of treatment yielded good results. Pain relief was achieved by decompressing the neural elements, leading to better quality of life among the operated patients.