Posterior MIS

Minimally invasive surgery reduces the surgical time, blood loss, and trauma for the patient, potentially resulting in a quicker recovery while providing similar clinical mid to long term results. It is therefore the preferred procedure whenever possible.

Based on CT and MRI imaging, a plan should be prepared to determine:

• The size and optimal location of implants used
• Whether spinal cord decompression is necessary and if so, the amount of tissue to remove in order to achieve sufficient spinal cord decompression

Every case will be unique, and we will here illustrate just one example.

In patients requiring posterior lateral decompression, not requiring anterior column reconstruction, bilateral posterior pedicle screw fixation with minimum fixation with minimum fixation of at least one level above and below the involved segment should be used.

Short segment constructs lead to increased stress on the posterior implants increasing the risk of implant failure (screw pullout). The risk of implant failure may be decreased by cement augmentation of fenestrated screws and through reconstitution of the anterior column using cement augmentation of the pathological fracture, and/or use of vertebral body fillers/implants.

Fixation of multiple spinal segments does not affect functionality in the thoracic spine due to the presence of rigid rib cage. Adequate screw purchase should be aimed for during initial surgery as revision surgeries are too demanding for these patients.

Embolization procedures are recommended to reduce operative blood loss in hyper vascular tumors especially for larger resections. For percutaneous procedures embolization is often not necessary due to limited or no resection of the tumor.

In cases where the surgeon wishes to provide anterior column support, cement reconstruction using either vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, or a vertebral body stent can be performed.

For this procedure the patient is placed in the prone position and the minimally invasive approach for pedicle screw insertion is used.

Based on CT and MRI imaging, a plan should be prepared to determine:

• The size and optimal location of implants used
• Whether spinal cord decompression is necessary and if so, the amount of tissue to remove in order to achieve sufficient spinal cord decompression

Every case will be unique, and we will here illustrate just one example.

In patients requiring posterior lateral decompression, not requiring anterior column reconstruction, bilateral posterior pedicle screw fixation with minimum fixation of two levels above and below the involved segment should be used.

Short segment constructs lead to increased stress on the posterior implants increasing the risk of implant failure (screw pullout). The risk of implant failure may be decreased by cement augmentation of fenestrated screws and through reconstitution of the anterior column using cement augmentation of the pathological fracture, and/or use of vertebral body fillers/implants.

Fixation of multiple spinal segments does not affect functionality in the thoracic spine due to the presence of rigid rib cage. Adequate screw purchase should be aimed for during initial surgery as revision surgeries are too demanding for these patients.

Embolization procedures are recommended to reduce operative blood loss in hyper vascular tumors especially for larger resections.

In cases where the surgeon wishes to provide anterior column support, cement reconstruction using either vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, or a vertebral body stent can be performed.

Pedicle screws are inserted one or two levels above and below the tumor on both sides. Mono- or polyaxial top or side loading screws can be used in any combination.

• MIS Pedicle screw insertion

In tumor patients achieving optimal screw purchase is even more important than in trauma patients to minimize risk of pullouts and reduce the number of levels involved.

Optimal pedicle screw purchase will, in order of importance, be achieved by:

1. Selecting the largest possible screw diameter
2. Selecting the longest possible screw
3. Positioning of the screw under the cranial endplate
4. Cement augmentation of the screw.

Rod contouring should mainly follow the curvature of the spine. Reducing preexisting deformities is typically not necessary and may lead to screw pull-out.

The rods are inserted into the screw heads and the screw heads are tightened with the inner nuts.

If decompression is performed, one rod is inserted before and one after the compression.

Prior to wound closure, intra-operative imaging is performed to check the adequacy of reduction, position and length of screws and the overall coronal and sagittal spinal alignment.

Patients are made to sit up in the bed on the first day after surgery. Bracing is optional but preferably omitted for patient comfort. Patients with intact neurological status are made to stand and walk on the first day after surgery.

Patients can be discharged when medically stable or sent to a rehabilitation center if further care is necessary.

During admission adequate caloric intake of a high-quality diet should be monitored.

Patients are generally followed with periodical x-rays and (optionally) MR imaging at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year to monitor for tumor recurrence and hardware failure.

Postoperative radiation is required to avoid tumor recurrence. SBRT is usually initiated within two weeks following surgery. Conventional radiotherapy is usually initiated 2-4 weeks after surgery to reduce the risk of wound healing disturbances.

The radiation modality is selected based on tumor histology and history of prior radiation.