Neoplastic spinal cord compression-surgical experience in Bahrain

ABSTRACT

Twenty patients with neoplasms producing spinal cord compression [SCC] were analysed. Half of the neoplasms were benign and primary and in these patients, surgical resection produced a good neurological recovery and functional outcome. In the other half of the cases, neoplasms were malignant, mostly metastatic to the epidural space. These patients had complete loss of spinal cord function before surgery and no improvement ensued following surgery. To achieve good functional outcome in these cases, early diagnosis and emergency surgical decompression before or within 12 hours of complete loss of cord function, is vital