OBJECTIVETo investigate the clincial effects and feasibility of anterior thoracoscopically assisted surgery (TAS) with posterior one-stage total en block spondylectomy(TES) for thoracic spinal tumour.

METHODSFrom October 2014 to January 2016, 4 patients with thoracic spinal tumour were treated by anterior thoracoscopically assisted surgery with posterior one-stage total en block spondylectomy. There were 2 males and 2 females, aged 16, 35, 46, 60 years. Courses of disease were 1, 4, 6, 9 months. The tumor occurred at T₄, T₆, T₁₃₀ segment in 1 case respectively, at double T7/T8 segments in 1 case. Preoperative visual analogue scores(VAS) were 4, 5, 6, 8 points. Frankel grade of neurologic function was grade B in 2, D in 1, and E in 1. SF-36 quality of life scores were 38, 65, 35, 29 points, including 2 cases of primary spinal tumors, 2 cases of metastatic spinal tumors. According to the classification of Tomita, 1 case was type III, 2 cases were type IV, 1 case was type VI. And according to the WBB staging, 4-9/ABCD was in 2 cases, 5-8/ABC compliated with 1-3 was in 1 case, 6-7/ABC was in 1 case. Surgical procedure: With lateral position, the thoracoscope channel was inserted. The involved intervertebral vessels and corresponding intercostal vessels were ligated, while the prevertebral large vessels were completely separated and protected. The front halves of superior and inferior involved vertebral discs were removed. Then the patients were changed to prone position, posterior one-stage total en block spondylectomy, titanium cage bone graft (allograft bone), pedicle screw fixation were performed.

RESULTSAll of the operations were successful and the patients were followed up for 34, 10, 11, 12 months. Pleural effusion occurred in 1 case after operation, and pleural closed drainage was done. All incisions got primary healing; and all patients showed significant pain relief (<0.005), with the VAS score decreasing to 2(2 cases) and 3(2 cases) scores, 2 months after surgery. No nerve functional injury aggravated. SF-36 quality of life score obviously improved with postoperative scores for 88, 92, 71, 80 at 3 months after operation. No recurrent vertebral tumor, internal fixation lossening or breakage was found at follow-up points of 3, 6, 12 months. One patient with lung cancer died of multiple organ failure at 11 months after operation.

CONCLUSIONSWith anterior TAS, vertebral anterior vessels, intervertebral blood vessels, intercostal vessels were successfully separated or ligated, intraoperative bleeding was effectively controlled, lung and esophagus were effectively protected, and the tumor received wide excision. Anterior TAS and one-stage posterior TES could significantly reduce the surgical trauma and the risk of surgery.