[Operative treatment of metastatic tumors of spine]

The spine is the most common site of metastatic tumors. The highest incidence of metastatic tumors on the spine is in the lumbar region, followed by the thoracic and cervical levels. Most associated spinal cord lesions, however, are located in the thoracic spine. The goals of surgery is decompression of the neural tissues, prevention of neural injury by stabilization of the unstable spinal column,or pain control. When there is a need to decompress the neurologic tissues,the most direct approach is anterior because the most common site of metastatic tumors is in the vertebral body. Laminectomy alone is not effective in improving neurologic function. Nevertheless,the posterior approach is more accessible, less hazardous, and effective in the correction of deformity if combined with instrumentation. If complete vertebrectomy is feasible in anterior bone strut combined with anterior and posterior stabilization is necessary following the vertebrectomy.