OBJECTIVETo discuss the effect and complication of spinal operation combined with vertebroplasty in treating for multiple spinal neoplasm.

METHODSDuring the last two years, 20 patients (13 male and 7 female) with multiple spinal neoplasm including metastases, multiple myeloma and lymphoma were treated by operation combined with vertebroplasty, 2 vertebral body segments were involved in 5 cases, 3 to 4 vertebral body segments were involved in 11 cases, more than 5 segments were involved in other 4 cases. Neurological function deficit and severe pain were seen in all the cases. Patients were evaluated by Tomita prognostic scoring system before the operation; The average point was 7.2 (from 3 to 9 points).

RESULTSThe pain relief rate was 85% (17/20), and neurological recovery was found in 10 out of 12 patients who had neurological deficit. According to the system of Frankel and neurological function, 1 patient recovered from grade B to grade C after the operation, and there was no change in another patients who was evaluated as grade A before the operation. The main complication of vertebroplasty was leakage of PMMA. Six patients had leakage of PMMA into adjacent structures in this series.

CONCLUSIONSBetter results of pain relief and neurological function recovery and living quality can be achieved by surgical palliation of operation combined with vertebroplasty for multiple spinal neoplasm.