Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
1989-3-23
pubmed:abstractText
During the past decade, anterior approaches to the spine have been shown to be much more effective than laminectomy for the relief of pain and neurological deficits due to vertebral metastases. Laminectomy has failed because it does not allow adequate decompression of epidural lesions anterior to the thecal sac. In an effort to combine the advantages of the posterior approach with an adequate decompression, a one-stage posterolateral decompression-stabilization procedure was performed on nine patients with thoracolumbar spine tumors. The approach has been used for decompression and stabilization after thoracolumbar burst fractures. Marked lasting improvement was seen in all six patients with preoperative neurological deficits and in four patients with severe back pain and/or radiculopathy. Three nonambulators and two marginal ambulators could walk postoperatively without assistance. Of five patients who were working preoperatively, four returned full-time to their prior occupations. Three patients had serious complications, including one early postoperative death. No patient deteriorated neurologically due to the procedure. Although the series is small, it demonstrates that adequate one-stage decompression-stabilization of spinal epidural lesions is possible via the posterolateral approach and should be considered in certain cases as an alternative to the anterior approach.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Mar
pubmed:issn
0022-3085
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
70
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
405-10
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1989
pubmed:articleTitle
One-stage posterolateral decompression and stabilization for primary and metastatic vertebral tumors in the thoracic and lumbar spine.
pubmed:affiliation
Orthopedic Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Case Reports