Surgical Treatment of Spine Cancer
Edited By: Sohail K. Mirza, M.D. MPH
Last updated Friday, December 30, 2005
Preparing for surgeryPreparation Prior to spinal cancer surgery, patients are advised to
maintain a healthy lifestyle in terms of their nutrition, exercise and other
daily habits. This maintenance will allow for optimal recovery.
Patients may have other pre-surgery needs, depending on
their health and the status of their spinal cancer treatment. Often this
includes a general medical evaluation to assess the risk of surgery and address
any treatable risk factors. It may also involve specialized imaging studies to
plan the operation. Preparation can also include embolization to reduce blood
flow to the cancer, making the surgery easier and safer to perform. Timing If the patient is not symptomatic, he or she may delay
spinal cancer surgery indefinitely. The changes in the size and spread of the
cancer can be monitored with imaging studies while non-surgical treatments are
carried out.
If the patient is experiencing symptoms such as pain,
weakness, numbness, and difficulty walking, or if a fracture has occurred or is
thought to be imminent, delaying surgery should be minimized to ensure an
optimal outcome for the patient. Costs The surgeon’s office should provide a reasonable estimate
of:
- The
hospital fee,
- The
cost of implants,
- The
surgeon’s fee,
- The
degree to which these should be covered by the patient’s insurance.
Surgical team Spinal cancer surgery requires specialized skills.
Therefore, it should ideally be performed by an orthopaedic surgeon or
neurosurgeon with specialized training in spine tumor surgery.
Experience is another important factor in choosing a
surgeon. Patients should consider how many procedures per year a surgeon
performs when making their selection.
Spinal cancer surgery is usually performed at major medical
centers since often spine tumor surgery is a complex procedure. The surgery
requires a dedicated multidisciplinary team with specially trained staff and
the necessary ancillary services to ensure the patient’s condition is closely
monitored before, during and after surgery. This team is essential to assist in
the management of any risks and ensure the patient’s overall health and safety. Finding an experienced surgeon Patients can usually receive spinal surgeon referral
resources from their primary care provider. In addition, many major medical
centers, including teaching hospitals affiliated with a medical college or
university are more likely to be involved in research and thus, have the
specialists and services necessary for spinal cancer surgery.Facilities Spinal cancer surgery is usually performed at major medical
centers as spine tumor surgery is a complicated procedure requiring a dedicated
multidisciplinary team with specially trained staff and the necessary ancillary
services to ensure the patient’s condition is closely monitored before, during
and after surgery. This team is essential to assist in the management of any
risks and to ensure the patient’s overall health and safety.Surgery for Spine tumors; neoplasms of the spine; spine cancer; pathological fractions of the spine at the University of Washington If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-598-4288 (outside the Seattle area: 800-440-3280) to make an appointment.
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