Open Kyphoplasty for Metastatic Spine Disease: A Retrospective Clinical Series

Symptomatic metastatic spine disease (MSD), is a challenging disease involving 3%-20% of patients with bone metastases. Different surgical options are available and must be tailored to the general and neurologic conditions of the patients. Open kyphoplasty (OKP) refers to decompressive hemilaminectomy, associated with a contralateral percutaneous kyphoplasty, and in some cases, to a posterior stabilization. The aim of the study was to critically review our experience during the last decade with OKP in patients with cancer.

Fifty-three patients with cancer underwent OKP for symptomatic MSD. The Tokuhashi score and Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score were calculated for each patient. Length of hospital stay, perioperative complications, incidence of adjacent-level fractures, and median survival after surgery were evaluated. Karnofsky Performance Status, visual analog scale, and Dennis Pain Score were calculated preoperatively, postoperatively, and at last follow-up.

Median Tokuhashi score and Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score were 10 and 10, respectively. The mean volume of filling material inserted was 3.6 mL. Median operative time was 180 minutes. Complications included 8 leakages (15%), 2 permanent motor deficits (3.8%), and 2 asymptomatic pulmonary embolisms (3.8%). Mean length of hospital stay was 7 days. A significant improvement was observed in Karnofsky Performance Status, visual analog scale score, and Dennis Pain Score (P < 0.0001). Median follow-up was 16 months and overall survival 22 months.

OKP was an effective treatment of symptomatic MSDs in selected oncologic patients with low Tokuhashi scores. It relieved lateral epidural compressions, expanded indications of palliative surgery in patients who were not otherwise surgical candidates, and rapidly dealt with cement leakages.