Cervical spinal tumor surgery perfected

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 7, 2005 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A University of California-San Francisco surgeon has developed a technique to remove tumors from the spine's cervical region previously thought inoperable.

Called a lateral paramedian transpedicular approach, the technique uses advances in spinal instrumentation and reconstructive strategies to provide a direct approach to the removal of cervical spinal tumors with minimal, or no, neural manipulation.

UCSF is the only medical institution in the United States where patients can undergo this surgery.

The technique was developed by Dr. Christopher Ames, co-director of neurospinal disorders and director of the Spinal Biomechanics and Spinal Neuronavigation Laboratory at UCSF Medical Center.

The surgery uses standard and innovative devices to first remove and then reconstruct portions of the cervical spine in order to access tumors. Once the bone is removed, surgeons have a direct line of sight to the tumor and are able to remove it in its entirety without having to move or manipulate the spinal cord.

After the tumor is removed, surgeons immediately rebuild the spine with artificial pedicle screws, a reconstruction technique also developed by Ames.

The procedure is reported in the November issue of Operative Neurosurgery.

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