Aims. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and characteristics of instrumentation failure (IF) after total en bloc spondylectomy (TES), and to analyze risk factors for IF. Methods. The medical records from 136 patients (65 male, 71 female) with a mean age of 52.7 years (14 to 80) who underwent TES were retrospectively reviewed. The mean follow-up period was 101 months (36 to 232). Analyzed factors included incidence of IF, age, sex, BMI, history of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, tumour histology (primary or metastasis; benign or malignant), surgical approach (posterior or combined), tumour location (thoracic or lumbar; junctional or non-junctional), number of resected vertebrae (single or multilevel), anterior resection line (disc-to-disc or intravertebra), type of bone graft (autograft or frozen autograft), cage subsidence (CS), and local alignment (LA). A survival analysis of the instrumentation was performed, and relationships between IF and other factors were investigated using the Cox regression model. Results. A total of 44 patients (32.4%) developed IF at a median of 31 months (interquartile range 23 to 74) following TES. Most IFs were rod fractures preceded by a mean CS of 6.1 mm (2 to 18) and LA kyphotic enhancement of 10.8° (-1 to 36). IF-free survival rates were 75.8% at five years and 56.9% at ten years. The interval from TES to IF peaked at two to three years postoperatively and continued to occur over a period of time thereafter; the early IF-developing group had greater CS at one month postoperatively (CS1M) and more lumbar TES. CS1M ≥ 3 mm and sole use of frozen autografts were identified as independent risk factors for IF. Conclusion. IF is a common complication following TES. We have demonstrated that robust spinal reconstruction preventing CS, and high-quality bone grafting are necessary for successful reconstruction. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(2):172–179

Aims. To evaluate the perioperative complications associated with total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) in patients with spinal tumours, based on the extent and level of tumour resection. Methods. In total, 307 patients who underwent TES in a single centre were reviewed retrospectively. There were 164 male and 143 female patients with a mean age at the time of surgery of 52.9 years (SD 13.3). A total of 225 patients were operated on for spinal metastases, 34 for a malignant primary tumour, 41 for an aggressive benign tumour, and seven with a primary of unknown origin. The main lesion was located in the thoracic spine in 213, and in the lumbar spine in 94 patients. There were 97 patients who underwent TES for more than two consecutive vertebrae. Results. Major and minor perioperative complications were observed in 122 (39.7%) and 84 (27.4%) patients respectively. The breakdown of complications was as follows: bleeding more than 2,000 ml in 60 (19.5%) patients, hardware failure in 82 (26.7%), neurological in 46 (15.0%), surgical site infection in 23 (7.5%), wound dehiscence in 16 (5.2%), cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 45 (14.7%), respiratory in 52 (16.9%), cardiovascular in 11 (3.6%), digestive in 19 (6.2%)/ The mortality within two months of surgery was four (1.3%). The total number of complications per operation were 1.01 (SD 1.0) in the single vertebral resection group and 1.56 (SD 1.2) in the group with more than two vertebral resections. Cardiovascular and respiratory complications, along with hardware failure were statistically higher in the group who had more than two vertebrae resected. Also, in this group the amount of bleeding in patients with a lumbar lesion or respiratory complication in patients with a thoracic lesion, were statistically higher. Multivariate analysis showed that using a combined anterior and posterior approach, when more than two vertebral resections were significant independent factors. Conclusion. The characteristics of perioperative complications after TES were different depending on the extent and level of the tumour resection. In addition to preoperative clinical and pathological factors, it is therefore important to consider these factors in patients who undergo en bloc resection for spinal tumours. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(5):976–983

Total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) is the total resection of a vertebra containing a tumour. Many authors have investigated patient-reported outcomes after routine spinal surgery and surgery for tumours in general. However, this is the first report of patient-reported outcomes, including health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and satisfaction, after en bloc vertebral resection for a spinal tumour.

Of the 54 patients who underwent TES for a primary tumour between 1993 and 2010, 19 died and four were lost to follow-up. In January 2012, a questionnaire was sent to the 31 surviving patients. This included the short form-36 to assess HRQoL and questions about the current condition of their disease, activities of daily living (ADL) and surgery. The response rate was high at 83.9% (26/31 patients). We found that most patients were satisfied and maintained good performance of their ADLs.

The mental health status and social roles of the HRQoL scores were nearly equivalent to those of healthy individuals, regardless of the time since surgery. There was significant impairment of physical health in the early post-operative years, but this usually returned to normal approximately three years after surgery.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:1693–8.

Aims

Patients with differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTCs) have a favourable long-term survival. Spinal metastases (SMs) cause a decline in performance status (PS), directly affecting mortality and indirectly preventing the use of systemic therapies. Metastasectomy is indicated, if feasible, as it yields the best local tumour control. Our study aimed to examine the long-term clinical outcomes of metastasectomy for SMs of thyroid carcinomas.