INTRODUCTION: This study analyzes the early and mid-term results of our modular rod-screw implant system for the posterior instrumentation of the occipito-cervical, cervical and cervico-thoracic spine (neon occipito-cervical system, Ulrich, Germany) in patients with tumor osteolysis. The prognosis of the patients was evaluated using the Tokuhashi score. METHODS: The cervical and upper thoracic spines of 14 patients (7 males, 7 females, mean age 61 years, range 40-77 years) with osteolysis due to plasmocytoma (n = 2), bronchial (n = 3), mamma (n = 4), thyroid (n = 2), esophageal (n = 1) and pancreatic (n = 1) carcinomas as well as melanoma (n = 1) were instrumentated between June 2001 and April 2004. RESULTS: A stable fixation without loosening or failure of the fixator system was achieved in all cases. No impairment of the neurological status was observed. In our cohort different prognosis scores failed to make a reliable estimate of the expected survival at the time of surgery. CONCLUSION: Posterior instrumentation of the cervical spine including the occipito-cervical and the cervico-thoracic regions with a modular angle-stable rod-screw implant system (neon) offers good stabilization and allows simultaneous decompression. Since tumor masses are predominantly located in the anterior portion of the spine, blood loss can be controlled well. In this patient collective appears difficult to estimate the time of survival by a scoring system
Keywords : Adult,Aged,blood,Bone Screws,Carcinoma,Cervical Vertebrae,complications,diagnostic imaging,Disease Progression,etiology,Female,Germany,Humans,instrumentation,Male,Melanoma,methods,Middle Aged,Osteolysis,Patients,Prognosis,Radiography,Severity of Illness Index,Spinal Fusion,Spinal Neoplasms,Spine,surgery,therapy,Thoracic Vertebrae,Time,Treatment Outcome,, Surgical,Therapy,Progression, pain clinics near me
Date of Publication : 2005 Mar
Authors : Huch K;Cakir B;Ulmar B;Schmidt R;Puhl W;Richter M;
Organisation : Orthopadische Klinik mit Querschnittgelahmtenzentrum der Universitat Ulm/RKU, Ulm. klaus.huch@rku.de
Journal of Publication : Z Orthop Ihre Grenzgeb
Pubmed Link : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15849641
The London Spine Unit : Harley Street UK. Specialists in Cutting Edge Technologies for Spinal Surgery