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Perioperative complications with costotransversectomy and anterior approaches to thoracic and thoracolumbar tumors.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wiggins, GC; Mirza, S; Bellabarba, C; West, GA; Chapman, JR; Shaffrey, CI
Published in: Neurosurg Focus
December 15, 2001

OBJECT: Anterior decompression and stabilization for thoracic spinal tumors often involves a thoracotomy and can be associated with surgical approach-related complications. An alternative to thoracotomy is surgery via a costotransversectomy exposure. To delineate the risks of surgery, the authors reviewed their prospective database for patients who had undergone surgery via either of these approaches for thoracic or thoracolumbar tumors. The complications were recorded and graded based on severity and risk of impact on patient outcome. METHODS: Between September 1995 and April 2001, the authors performed 29 costotransversectomies (Group 1) and 18 thoracolumbar or combined (Group 2) approaches as initial operations for thoracic neoplasms. The age, sex, preoperative motor score, and preoperative Frankel grade did not significantly differ between the groups. In the costotransversectomy group there were greater numbers of metastases, upper thoracic procedures, and affected vertebral levels; additionally, the comorbidity rate based on Charlson score, was higher. The mean Frankel grades at discharge were not significantly different whereas the discharge motor and last follow-up motor scores were better in Group 2. There were 11 Group 1 and seven Group 2 patients who suffered at least one complication. The number or patients with complications, the mean number of complications, and severity of complications did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with anterior or combined approaches, the incidence and severity of perioperative complications in the surgical treatment of thoracic and thoracolumbar spinal tumors is similar in patients who undergo costotransversectomy. Costotransversectomy may be the preferred operation in patients with significant medical comorbidity or tumors involving more than one thoracic vertebra.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Neurosurg Focus

DOI

EISSN

1092-0684

Publication Date

December 15, 2001

Volume

11

Issue

6

Start / End Page

e4

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Thoracotomy
  • Thoracic Wall
  • Thoracic Vertebrae
  • Spinal Neoplasms
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Ribs
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Prospective Studies
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Pleura
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Wiggins, G. C., Mirza, S., Bellabarba, C., West, G. A., Chapman, J. R., & Shaffrey, C. I. (2001). Perioperative complications with costotransversectomy and anterior approaches to thoracic and thoracolumbar tumors. Neurosurg Focus, 11(6), e4. https://doi.org/10.3171/foc.2001.11.6.5
Wiggins, G. C., S. Mirza, C. Bellabarba, G. A. West, J. R. Chapman, and C. I. Shaffrey. “Perioperative complications with costotransversectomy and anterior approaches to thoracic and thoracolumbar tumors.Neurosurg Focus 11, no. 6 (December 15, 2001): e4. https://doi.org/10.3171/foc.2001.11.6.5.
Wiggins GC, Mirza S, Bellabarba C, West GA, Chapman JR, Shaffrey CI. Perioperative complications with costotransversectomy and anterior approaches to thoracic and thoracolumbar tumors. Neurosurg Focus. 2001 Dec 15;11(6):e4.
Wiggins, G. C., et al. “Perioperative complications with costotransversectomy and anterior approaches to thoracic and thoracolumbar tumors.Neurosurg Focus, vol. 11, no. 6, Dec. 2001, p. e4. Pubmed, doi:10.3171/foc.2001.11.6.5.
Wiggins GC, Mirza S, Bellabarba C, West GA, Chapman JR, Shaffrey CI. Perioperative complications with costotransversectomy and anterior approaches to thoracic and thoracolumbar tumors. Neurosurg Focus. 2001 Dec 15;11(6):e4.

Published In

Neurosurg Focus

DOI

EISSN

1092-0684

Publication Date

December 15, 2001

Volume

11

Issue

6

Start / End Page

e4

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Thoracotomy
  • Thoracic Wall
  • Thoracic Vertebrae
  • Spinal Neoplasms
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Ribs
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Prospective Studies
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Pleura