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Updated: May 7, 2026
Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery
Published on: August 17, 2022
Oxford spinal sarcoma service: excellent oncological outcomes with a centralised multidisciplinary approach to
Jonathan Jiong Hao Tan1, Euan Stirling2, Radek Kaiser2
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore. jonathan_jh_tan@nuhs.edu.sg.
Purpose:
The Oxford Spinal Sarcoma Service is a designated primary spinal tumour referral centre in the United Kingdom serving over ten million residents. We report the outcomes of this centralised approach to primary spinal tumour care.
Methods:
This is a retrospective review of surgically treated primary spinal tumour patients during 2008-2022. Patients were classified based on tumour resection margins - Enneking Appropriate (EA) or Enneking Inappropriate (EI). Outcomes studied include local recurrence and overall survival.
Results:
119 patients were included. 86/119(72%) cases involved the mobile spine; 33/119(28%), the sacrum. 96/119(81%) patients were virgin cases. EA margins were achieved in 68%(81/119) of cases. There were 38/119(32%) EI patients; 23/38(61%) were non-virgin cases which precluded EA resection. EA resection was achieved 90%(81/90) of the time when attempted. In EA patients with mobile spine tumours, local recurrence rate was 2%(1/51), vs. 18%(5/28) in EA patients with sacral tumours, 20%(7/35) in EI patients with mobile spine tumours, and 80%(4/5) in EI patients with sacral tumours. Mean local recurrence-free survival was 5.2(range 1-13.5) years; local recurrence rate, 18.5%(22/119). Mortality rate was 21.0%(25/119); mean overall survival was 5.63(range 1-13.5) years post-surgery. On multivariate analysis, EI margins and post-operative systemic treatment were significant predictors for local recurrence; presence of metastases and pre-operative systemic therapy, significant predictors for mortality.
Conclusion:
Centralisation of primary spinal tumour care has led to excellent oncological results comparable to most large spinal tumour centres. In mobile spine primary tumours where EA margins were achieved, our local recurrence rate (2.0%) is one of the lowest reported in literature.
