Stability of lumbar vertebra in patients with thoracolumbar vertebral metastases after treated with artificial vertebral placement or internal fixation / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Vertebral metastatic tumor often occurs in the thoracolumbar segment, and it is difficult for internal fixation due to the complex anatomical position. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the stability of lumbar vertebra in the patients with single thoracolumbar vertebral metastases after treated with artificial vertebral placement and internal fixation. METHODS:Sixteen patients (9 male and 7 female) with single thoracolumbar vertebral metastases treated in the Department of Orthopedics, the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2006 to January 2009 were selected, and the age ranged 40-74 years, averaged 52 years. Before treatment, al the patients were evaluated according to Frankel classification:A grade in two cases, B grade in three cases, C grade in three cases, D grade in five cases, and E grade in three cases. And the vertebral state of patients was detected with X-ray plain film examination, systemic radionuclide bone scanning, CT and MRI. The T11 vertebral metastases were treated with chest approach artificial vertebral placement and internal fixation, and T12-L2 vertebral metastases were treated with artificial vertebral placement and internal fixation via extrapleural and extraperitoneal space approach. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al the 16 patients were fol owed up for 4-32 months, and the average survival time after treatment was 12 months. After treatment, Frankel classification was C grade in three cases, D grade in five cases and E grade in eight cases. The visual analog scale score was decreased from (6.22±1.31) before treatment to (3.25±0.94) after treatment, and there was significant difference between two groups (P<0.05). The artificial vertebral placement and internal fixation can restore the stability of lumbar vertebra in the patients with spinal metastases, and thus improving the symptoms and quality of life.