A single-stage combined surgical approach for vertebral resections

Area of Science:

• Spine surgery
• Orthopedic surgery
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Destructive vertebral lesions (infectious or tumorous) and fracture-dislocations cause significant instability and deformity.
• Current treatment options may involve multiple stages and prolonged recovery periods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of a single-stage surgical approach for treating destructive vertebral lesions and fracture-dislocations.
• To evaluate the benefits of early patient mobilization and functional recovery.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of seventeen patients underwent single-stage resection, anterior spine fusion, and posterior Harrington distraction instrumentation.
• Patients included those with infectious or tumorous vertebral lesions and fracture-dislocations in the thoracolumbar or lumbar spine.

Main Results:

• The surgical technique effectively corrected vertebral instability and deformity, facilitating early patient mobilization.
• Ten out of seventeen patients with incomplete neural deficits showed improvement, with three achieving complete recovery.
• Five patients with complete paraplegia had no change in their condition. All patients were mobilized within fourteen days.

Conclusions:

• Single-stage resection, anterior fusion, and posterior instrumentation offer a viable treatment for selected vertebral lesions and fracture-dislocations.
• This approach promotes early mobilization and functional improvement in patients with incomplete neurological deficits.
• Potential complications include hardware failure and wound infection, necessitating careful patient selection and monitoring.