Spinal tumor surgery removes a mass growing in or around the vertebrae or inside the spinal canal, whether benign, malignant or spread from another organ. Its aim is to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, protect their function and keep the spine stable. The team decides how much to remove according to the tumor's type and position, and surgery does not guarantee a cure.
Under general anesthesia, the surgeon usually reaches the tumor from the back, sometimes from the front, while nerve function is monitored. The tumor is removed completely or in part with great care to protect the spinal cord, and the vertebrae may be stabilized with screws and rods. A sample goes for pathology, and radiation or drug treatment may follow.
The operation takes several hours, followed by days in hospital and weeks of rehabilitation. Symptoms usually improve gradually over weeks to months, and the outcome depends on the tumor type and the condition of the nerves before surgery, with regular follow-up MRI.
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It may relieve pain and pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, and it may preserve or improve mobility and bladder control. It also allows the tumor type to be identified precisely. The benefit varies with the type and location of the tumor and with the patient's condition.
Surgery is considered for people whose tumor presses on the spinal cord or nerves, causes severe pain or makes the spine unstable, and who can tolerate anesthesia and surgery. The decision is made by a multidisciplinary team that includes a spine surgeon, oncologists and radiologists.
You will have blood tests, MRI and CT imaging, and sometimes a study of the tumor's blood supply, together with a heart and lung assessment. Do not stop blood thinners or any other medicine on your own; this decision belongs to your doctor.
After general anesthesia, the surgeon reaches the tumor from the back or the front and removes it while monitoring nerve function to protect it. The vertebrae are stabilized with screws and rods if needed, and the tumor is sent for pathology.
Patients usually stay in hospital for several days and may begin sitting and walking with a physiotherapist. Rehabilitation takes weeks to months, and heavy lifting and deep bending are generally avoided until your doctor allows them.
Pain may ease early, while strength and sensation improve slowly over months and may not return fully to how they were. How long the result lasts depends on the tumor type, and regular imaging is needed to detect any recurrence.
They include bleeding, infection, cerebrospinal fluid leak, and injury to the spinal cord or nerves, which can cause weakness, numbness or bladder problems and, rarely, paralysis. The spinal fixation may fail or the tumor may return. Your surgeon will explain the risks that apply to you.
That depends on its type, its position and how close it lies to the spinal cord and nerves. Complete removal may be possible for some benign tumors, while in other cases the goal is partial removal to relieve pressure, followed by other treatment.
The team may recommend radiation, chemotherapy or targeted therapy depending on the pathology results, along with physiotherapy and rehabilitation. The decision is individual and is made after discussing your case.
A stay of at least 10 to 14 days is usually advised, and it may be longer depending on your neurological condition and rehabilitation progress. Your treating doctor confirms the travel date and the precautions to take.
