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Best Spine Care Hospital in Dhakuria

Surgery for Spinal Tumors

Best Spine Care Hospital in Dhakuria

Spinal tumours, also called intradural tumours, are abnormal growths within the spinal cord or at the covering, also called dura matter. Most tumours occur due to metastasis, i.e., cancer that arises from a particular area of the organ and spreads to the spine, particularly those from the lung, breast, prostate, thyroid, gastrointestinal, and blood. Spinal tumours are usually located in the following regions:

  • Intramedullary, or inside the spinal cord

  • Intradural-extramedullary or in the tissues covering the spinal cord

  • Extradural, or those present in between the spinal cord and bones of the spine

  • Within the vertebrae or spinal bones

Specialists in the Department of Spine Care at Manipal Hospitals, Dhakuria, West Bengal, address varying stages of spinal tumours by employing state-of-the-art techniques, ensuring personalised and comprehensive treatment plans tailored to individual needs. Our dedicated team, including technicians, nursing staff, and support staff, offers extensive support in providing a multidisciplinary and holistic approach to enhance patient recovery and quality of life. 

FAQ's

Some factors that may call for specialists to recommend Spinal Stabilisation or Decompression Surgery include:

  • Uncontrolled pain, especially when it cannot be managed with conventional treatments

  • Neurological deficits, including numbness or weakness

  • Radioresistant tumours

  • Mechanical instability

Sometimes, specialists use the Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS), a specialised tool, to assess eligibility for Spinal Surgery. If the score is 13 or higher, Spinal Stabilisation procedures are necessary to address their condition. However, for scores ranging between 7 and 12, the decision to perform surgery is based on the patient's condition and other individual factors. Moreover, surgery is recommended for patients if they are expected to live more than 3 months, as well as if they have a good performance status to tolerate the effects of surgery.

Surgical procedures to address spinal tumours of different stages are aimed at achieving three principal goals, which include:

  • Removing all tumours present in the spine

  • Preserving the neurological function of the spine

  • Maintaining spinal stability

Surgical techniques, such as minimally invasive, invasive, or both, are performed depending on the type of spinal tumour and individual factors, which include:

  • Spinal Cord Decompression Surgeries such as Laminectomy or Laminotomy, Foraminotomy, and Discectomy

  • Spinal Fusion, which includes Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF), Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF), Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF), and Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF)

  • Spinal Separation involves the removal of a tumour to separate it from the spinal cord. Any remaining tumours are then addressed with Radiation or Chemotherapy

Asymptomatic tumours are often diagnosed through routine examinations, while symptomatic tumours are subjected to neurological examination, followed by diagnostic imaging. A thorough discussion is done based on your symptoms, which may include tenderness in the spine, loss of pain, muscle weakness, and medical history. The following screening or diagnostic procedures are then recommended based on your physical and neurological examination, which include:

  • Spinal Tap, which involves the removal of a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid to check for signs of cancer

  • Intraoperative Biopsy and Tumour Removal, are surgical procedures that involve identifying the characteristics of the tumour after removing it from the spine

  • Imaging tests, which include X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computed tomography (CT) scans to determine the source of the tumour in the case of a metastatic spinal tumour

  • Bone scans, which are used to identify abnormal areas of the spine by utilising contrast dyes

  • Blood tests, such as calcium and alkaline phosphatase levels

General instructions you can prepare for most surgical procedures that address spinal tumours include:

  • Inform our specialist of any past surgical procedures, allergies, any existing co-morbidities, and current medications.

  • Avoiding medicines such as anticoagulants and other particular mediations specified by our specialist before the procedure

  • Refraining from smoking, drinking alcohol, or chewing tobacco before the procedure

  • Arranging your transportation before and after the procedure, as well as your stay at the hospital

  • Leaving all your jewellery and other wearable objects at home on the day of the procedure

  • Addressing any concerns or questions you may have during your consultation to minimise anxiety or nervousness

Some of the risks associated with surgical interventions that treat spinal tumours include:

  • Allergies induced by anaesthesia medications
  • Severe bleeding or infection at the surgical site
  • Clotting of blood or thrombosis
  • Paralysis
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Dural tear, which can lead to leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Spinal instability
  • Pseudoarthrosis is the failure of the bones to fuse as they should

Specialists consider various factors to determine whether a patient is eligible for surgery. If not, many alternative treatments are employed by specialists or combined with surgery to manage the condition effectively, some of which include:

  • Radiation Therapy, such as External Beam Radiation Therapy, or Stereotactic Radiosurgery. The procedure is often used when the tumour is inoperable or to shrink it before and after the surgery to kill any remaining cells. 

  • Medications, such as corticosteroids, pain medications (NSAIDs), Chemotherapy, and Immunotherapy drugs

  • Watchful waiting, especially in cases suspected of benign spinal tumours, and see if they manifest any symptoms or grow rapidly

  • Palliative care is usually recommended for patients with advanced cancer.

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