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Cervical spine metastases: techniques for anterior reconstruction and stabilization

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Abstract

The surgical management of cervical spine metastases continues to evolve and improve. The authors provide an overview of the various techniques for anterior reconstruction and stabilization of the subaxial cervical spine after corpectomy for spinal metastases. Vertebral body reconstruction can be accomplished using a variety of materials such as bone autograft/allograft, polymethylmethacrylate, interbody spacers, and/or cages with or without supplemental anterior cervical plating. In some instances, posterior instrumentation is needed for additional stabilization.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Kristin Kraus, M.Sc., for editorial assistance in preparing this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, 175 N. Medical Drive East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA

    Christina M. Sayama, Meic H. Schmidt & Erica F. Bisson

Authors
  1. Christina M. Sayama
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  2. Meic H. Schmidt
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  3. Erica F. Bisson
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Correspondence to Erica F. Bisson.

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Comments

George A. Alexiou, Ioannina, Greece

The spine is the most common site of bone metastasis. The treatment of spinal metastasis is mainly palliative in nature. Although chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and radiotherapy are the mainstay treatment, surgery remains an option in selected cases. Surgical therapy has evolved over the last years from simple decompressive approaches to direct anterior reconstructive approaches. Anterior reconstruction and stabilization has been performed using several different techniques. Anterior reconstruction has the advantages of resection of tumor burden, direct neural decompression and correction of the unstable spine. Occasionally, it becomes necessary to supplement the anterior construct with posterior instrumentations. The current study presents a comprehensive review of the techniques described in literature for anterior reconstruction after cervical corpectomy. In general, these techniques can achieve good clinical and radiographic outcomes. The authors provide a nice and thorough description of the available materials and in my opinion they give a nice systematic presentation of the surgical options. Given the available modalities for reconstruction following anterior cervical corpectomy, further comparative studies are needed.

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Sayama, C.M., Schmidt, M.H. & Bisson, E.F. Cervical spine metastases: techniques for anterior reconstruction and stabilization. Neurosurg Rev 35, 463–475 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-012-0388-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-012-0388-z

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