Removal of Intradural-Extramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors with Unilateral Limited Laminectomy.
10.3340/jkns.2008.43.5.232
- Author:
Jong Eun SIM
1
;
Seung Jin NOH
;
Young Jin SONG
;
Hyung Dong KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea. hdkim@donga.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Laminectomy;
Intradural extramedullary spinal cord neoplams
- MeSH:
Back Pain;
Congenital Abnormalities;
Follow-Up Studies;
Humans;
Kyphosis;
Laminectomy;
Lumbosacral Region;
Meningioma;
Neurilemmoma;
Postoperative Complications;
Spinal Cord;
Spinal Cord Neoplasms
- From:Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
2008;43(5):232-236
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Total laminectomy for the removal of intradural-extramedullary spinal cord tumors has been used widely, but postoperative complications often develop, such as kyphosis, spinal instability, and persistent back pain. In this study, we evaluated seven patients with intradural-extramedullary spinal cord tumors with respect to the value of unilateral limited laminectomy. Our cases included six schwannomas, and one meningioma. The cervical region was involved in four cases, the thoracolumbar region in two cases, and the lumbar region in one case. The rationale for choosing a unilateral approach is to preserve musculoligamentous attachments and posterior bony elements as much as possible. The patients were mobilized on the third postoperative day and preoperative neurological symptoms were recovered within a few weeks. We did not observe any complication relating to unilateral limited laminectomy and at follow-up evaluation (at 3 and 12 months postoperatively), none of the patients showed spinal deformity or spinal instability. We think that the unilateral limited laminectomy is a safe and efficient technique for the treatment of intradural-extramedullary spinal cord tumors. We suggest that this technique is one of the best treatments for these tumors.
