Surgical treatment of tumors of the spine.

Indications for the surgical treatment of spinal tumors are intractable pain, spinal instability and deformity, and impending or present significant neurologic complications. The best results are obtained by thorough decompression, adequate correction of deformity, and proper stabilization of the spine. The decompressive laminectomy alone is rarely indicated for neoplastic diseases of the spine. In general, the principles of surgical treatment for spinal tumors are: anterior approach for the anterior lesion and posterior approach for the posterior lesion, a one-stage combined anterior and posterior approach for extensive lesions, and adequate stabilization with the use of various internal fixation devices, bone graft, or bone cement. The results of surgical treatments of 20 patients in this series based on these guidelines are satisfactory (7 excellent, 6 good, and 7 fair). None was rated as poor.