Spinal stabilization for patients with metastatic lesions of the spine using a titanium spacer

Anterior decompression in spinal metastases of the corporal type
with impending (n=5) or present (n=36) neurological complications
was performed in 41 patients. For reconstruction, a titanium
cylinder was inserted after spondylectomy and augmented with an
anterior plate. The titanium implant can easily be adjusted to the
length needed without necessitating expensive additional equipment.
Outside the patient the implant is filled with
polymethylmetacrylate, facilitating plate transfixation for
rotational locking. There was a 30-day mortality of 9.7%. Pain
relief was apparent in 38 of 41 patients (92.7%), and motor
improvement was manifest in 31 of 35 cases (88.6%). Six patients
did not present with any neurological symptoms pre- or
postoperatively. Neurological deterioration was registered in only
1 case (2.4%). Surgical efficacy was maintained until the death of
the patients. Though tumor recurrence at a different spinal level
led to consecutive surgery in 5 patients, no implant dislocation
occurred during the observation period (maximum 44 months),
characterizing the procedure as a mechanically reliable and safe
technique.