SURGICAL-TREATMENT FOR METASTATIC TUMORS OF THE SPINE

We report herein the results of anterior or posterior neural decompres sion with spinal stabilization in 16 patients with spinal metastases. Intractable back pain was relieved in 14 patients (87.5%) and 4 had co mplete pain relief. Neurologic recovery was observed in 8 out of 13 pa tients (61.5%) who had some neurologic deficits before surgery. The ac tivities of daily living improved in 7 of 9 (77.7%), and 5 out of 8 pa tients (62.5%) who had been unable to walk before surgery became ambul atory after surgery. The average operation time was 3 h 15 min with an average blood loss of 2150 ml. No patient died within 1 month after m onths. The results indicated that, if properly indicated, anterior or posterior neural decompression and spinal stabilization is a safe and effective treatment for patients with spinal metastases to improve the quality of life for the patients' remaining years.