Total spondylectomy in spine tumors

Total spondylectomy was performed in 19 patients from 1970 to 1995. Sixteen had malignant primary or metastatic spinal tumors and 3 had benign. In 2 patients resections were done in one stage, but the remainder required a 2 stage procedure. The first stage included posterior segment resection, cord decompression and stabilizaion with metallic fixators and bone graft. The second stage completed resection of the vertebral body(ies), decompression of the anterior cord and stabilization. Benign tumor cases were stabilized with autografts. Malignant tumor cases were stabilized with porous Nickel Titanic prosthesis or Titanic prosthesis (author’s device). Three patients with benign tumors are alive. Sixteen patients with malignant tumors died. Mean survival time was 7.6 months. In malignant tumor cases neither one stage nor two stage total spondylectomy increases the survival rate but significantly improves the quality of life.