Unilateral fixation in the treatment of metastatic lesions of the spine

Fixação unilateral no tratamento das lesões metastáticas da coluna vertebral

Fijación unilateral en el tratamiento de lesiones metastásicas de la columna vertebral

Objective: To evaluate the surgical outcome of patients with spinal metastases who underwent unilateral fixation using a pedicle fixation system. Methods: Seventeen patients with metastatic spinal lesions underwent surgical treatment for metastatic spinal lesions. Unilateral fixation of the affected vertebral segment was performed using a pedicle fixation system, as well as unilateral fixation of two vertebrae cranial and caudal to the affected vertebra. Decompression of the nerve structures and reconstruction of the anterior spine using vertebral spacers were performed according to the individual needs of each patient. Patients were evaluated using clinical and radiological parameters. Results: Pain, assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), showed a statistically significant reduction in pre- and postoperative scores. Implant-related complications were observed in three patients, tumor recurrence in two patients, and postoperative infection in one patient. Conclusion: unilateral fixation of the spine using pedicle fixation systems provided mechanical stability and statistical reduction in pain scores, reduced the morbidity of the surgical procedure and presented a low rate of postoperative complications. Level of Evidence IV; Case Series.

Keywords:
Spinal Fusion; Spinal Neoplasms; Metastasis