Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic decompression in the treatment of spinal metastases: A case report

Spinal metastases are always associated with specific pain of back and limbs caused by nerve root compression. Although percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) has been widely performed on patients with back and radicular pain originating from lumbar disc herniation, this minimally invasive surgery is rarely used for the treatment of spinal metastases.

A 71-year-old woman with colon cancer and a known L3 vertebral body metastasis presented with significant progressive pain of low back and limbs.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed the L3 vertebral body had been involved by osteolytic vertebral metastasis, which extended into spinal canal and compressed the dural sac and nerve root.

The patient was treated with percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic decompression and palliative resection of metastases was performed twice on both sides, respectively. After the minimally invasive procedure, the decompression of the dural sac and nerve root was ideal.

No complications during the procedure were reported. The minimally invasive surgery resulted in prompt and permanent pain relief until the patient died 6 months later.

Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic decompression could be an appropriate treatment option for the patients who suffer neurologic deficits that result from the spinal metastases.