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Surgery for spinal tumors in Mukundapur

Surgery for Spinal Tumors

Surgery for Spinal Tumors in Mukundapur

Spine tumours are a major social and medical issue, affecting the quality of life for thousands of people and putting a strain on healthcare systems worldwide. Spine tumours can be treated with a variety of methods, including radiation and highly invasive en bloc excision. Whenever tumour removal is required, a variety of surgical procedures can be used, depending on the type of tumour, surgical goal, and overall patient health. Most symptomatic spinal cord tumours require surgical removal, which may usually be done with small incisions in the back or neck and little bone disturbance. Spine tumours, which encompass a wide spectrum of disorders, necessitate rapid interdisciplinary treatment options, with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical procedures being the most commonly used, either alone or in combination. Stereotactic radiotherapy is a type of radiation therapy used to treat brain and spinal cancers that do not respond to conventional radiation therapy. Stereotactic radiosurgery uses intense, highly concentrated, and precise radiation to shrink and destroy tumour tissue while sparing healthy surrounding tissue, with no incisions.

FAQ's

There are numerous surgical methods available to treat metastatic spinal tumours and/or associated symptoms. The two main categories of surgery are as follows:

  • Minimally invasive surgery has comparatively small incisions and quicker recovery times. 

  • Open surgery is more extensive, with larger incisions and a longer recovery time. When surgery is indicated for a metastatic tumour, it is usually part of a larger treatment plan that includes radiation therapy, medicines, and/or chemotherapy. 

Minimally invasive surgery is defined as surgery that uses small incisions (half an inch or less) and causes minimum tissue damage. Most minimally invasive operations are performed on an outpatient basis, which means that the patient can return home the same day.

  • Vertebroplasty is a procedure in which a needle is placed through a small incision in your back to inject medical-grade bone cement into a fractured vertebra, filling in the empty spaces and acting as an internal cast to stabilise the bone. The treatment is particularly developed to relieve pain, avoid vertebral collapse, and restore mobility.

  • Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE): This process requires a tiny incision in the thigh to access the femoral artery. A catheter guided by a wire is directed through the circulatory system to the tumour's site for imaging. Once the tumour has been found, a chemotherapeutic substance is injected directly into it, shrinking or destroying it. 

  • Kyphoplasty: Kyphoplasty is a therapy that involves inserting and inflating a balloon into the bone to create a hollow. This procedure is specifically developed to relieve pain caused by a spinal fracture and stabilise the bone with an internal cast.

The choice between open and minimally invasive surgery for spinal tumours is heavily influenced by the following factors:

  • Tumour size
  • Location
  • Accessibility
  • Level of involvement
  • The surgeon's expertise

Open surgery provides physicians with direct visibility and access to the tumour, while minimally invasive procedures offer benefits such as smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, faster recovery, and potentially lower complications.

Robotic-assisted surgery is one of the advanced surgeries increasingly being used to treat spine tumours. Robotic devices provide more precision and agility, allowing surgeons to carry out difficult surgeries with smaller incisions and less harm to surrounding tissues. This can lead to faster recoveries and better outcomes for patients.

Spinal tumour surgery carries intrinsic risks and probable complications, such as:

  • Bleeding
  • Infection
  • Nerve injury
  • Spinal cord damage
  • Paralysis
  • Cerebrospinal fluid leakage
  • Loss of spinal stability. 

The likelihood of problems varies according to the tumour's location, size, proximity to important structures, and surgical approach. 

Preparing for Spinal Tumour Surgery requires a thorough preoperative evaluation, which includes medical assessments, imaging studies, and discussions with the surgical team. Patients may also benefit from rehabilitation programs, such as physical therapy and nutritional counselling to improve their physical fitness and resilience before surgery. Addressing emotional concerns, getting support from loved ones, and communicating expectations with healthcare personnel can all help reduce anxiety and encourage a happy surgery experience.

You will most likely feel tired and in pain for a few days following surgery. The skin surrounding the incision part (incision) may feel stiff, puffy, sensitive, and bruised. Tenderness should subside in 2 or 3 days, and bruising in 2 weeks. The firmness and swelling may continue for three to six months.

Spinal tumour removal surgery can involve discomfort and pain, although steps are taken to manage and minimise these effects. During the surgery, patients are usually under general anaesthesia, which ensures they are unconscious and do not experience pain during the procedure. After surgery, it is common to experience some discomfort or pain at the surgical site and in the surrounding area.

If you have a spinal fusion, you can restart your work for 4 to 6 weeks assuming you are young, healthy, and your job is not physically demanding. It may take 4 to 6 months for older adults who have undergone more extensive surgery to return to work. The length of treatment is partly determined by the severity of your ailment before surgery.

There have been advancements in surgical techniques, imaging technologies, and less invasive treatments that have resulted in better outcomes and shorter recovery times for many patients having spine tumour surgery. For example, using intraoperative imaging such as MRI or CT scans allows surgeons to see the tumour in real-time during surgery, resulting in a more exact removal.

Effective interaction with your medical professionals before and after spinal tumour surgery entails asking questions, expressing worries, and actively engaging in treatment decisions. Patients ought to try to maintain open and honest communication with their healthcare professionals, discuss pertinent medical history and preferences, inquire about treatment alternatives and expectations, and fight for their needs throughout the surgical process.