Harrington rod stabilization for pathological fractures of the spine

Nineteen patients with tumors involving the thoracolumbar spine were treated by Harrington rod stabilization following laminectomy. Sixteen patients had metastatic neoplasms, and three had primary tumors of the vertebral column. In five patients, extensive decompressive laminectomy and Harrington distraction rods to provide immediate stability were used as initial treatment; postoperative irradiation was then given. All five patients were ambulatory, and the four patients with preoperative pain all noted relief of pain following treatment. The remaining 14 patients had received radiation therapy to the spine prior to surgery; in these 14, indications for surgery included a combination of pain and weakness (10 patients), pain alone (two patients), or weakness alone (two patients). Of 12 patients with preoperative pain, after surgery pain relief was noted in nine patients, and eight were ambulatory. Major wound breakdowns occurred in two of the 14 patients who had received radiation prior to surgery. These results suggest that Harrington rod instrumentation is useful in providing postoperative stability and restoring alignment following laminectomy for tumors involving the spine, but carries an increased risk of wound-related complications if used in a previously irradiated region.