Decompression Surgery Options for Metastatic Cervical Spine Lesions

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Neurosurgery
• Spinal Surgery

Background:

• Metastatic spinal lesions are common in advanced cancer, with the spine being the most frequent site of bone metastasis.
• Significant advancements have been made in managing spinal tumors and associated complications over the past decade.
• Cervical spine metastases can lead to critical spinal cord compression, necessitating effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of decompression surgery in managing metastatic cervical spine lesions causing spinal cord compression.
• To assess the impact of surgical intervention on pain and neurological function in affected patients.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 38 patients (27 female, 11 male, average age 61.35 years) with metastatic cervical spine lesions and cord compression underwent decompression surgery.
• Patient outcomes, including pain and motor function, were monitored post-operatively.

Main Results:

• Significant pain regression was observed in 68.4% of patients by 10 days, 86.8% by one month, and 92.1% by one year post-surgery.
• Neurological symptom regression occurred in 21.1% by 10 days, 55.3% by one month, and 89.5% by one year.
• Two patients experienced worsening neurological status and pain, with mortality noted between 3 and 12 months post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• Decompression surgery is an effective treatment for metastatic cervical spine lesions causing spinal cord compression.
• The procedure leads to substantial reductions in pain and improvements in neurological dysfunction.
• Surgical intervention offers significant benefits for quality of life in cancer patients with spinal metastases.