Total en bloc spondylectomy for spinal tumors: surgical techniques and related basic background

Area of Science:

• Spine surgery
• Surgical oncology
• Orthopedic surgery

Background:

• Traditional spondylectomy involves piecemeal removal of vertebral components.
• Limitations exist in achieving complete tumor resection and preserving spinal stability.
• Advancements in surgical anatomy and biomechanics are crucial for spinal procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and describe the total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) technique.
• To highlight the improvements and considerations in TES based on anatomical and biomechanical principles.
• To review the developmental process, identifying key tips, potential pitfalls, and solutions for TES.

Main Methods:

• Development of the total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) technique.
• En bloc removal of the entire vertebra (body and lamina) as a single compartment.
• Application of knowledge of spinal anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics to refine the surgical approach.

Main Results:

• TES enables en bloc resection of the vertebral lesion, encompassing the entire vertebra.
• The technique has been refined through a deep understanding of spinal biomechanics and anatomy.
• A review of the developmental process has identified critical tips and potential challenges.

Conclusions:

• Total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) represents a significant advancement in vertebral tumor resection.
• The technique's success is attributed to meticulous consideration of spinal anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics.
• Understanding the developmental process of TES provides valuable insights for its effective application and optimization.