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Before considering spine tumor surgery, learn the facts at University Spine Associates, where back, neck, and minimally invasive spine surgery is our specialty.
How do you determine if spine surgery is the right treatment for you? Spinal surgery specialists consider many factors before making the decision to operate. Aspects like a patient’s age and health, the tumor’s type, location, and size, as well as how the tumor is affecting the spinal column and spinal nerves are all factors to consider when determining whether or not a patient is a candidate for spine tumor surgery. If deemed operable, the removal or resection of a cervical, thoracic, or lumbar growth is intended to reduce the symptoms of a spine tumor, like progressive weakness, severe back and spinal pain, strengthen stability, as well as restore a patient’s overall quality of life.
Minimally Invasive & Open Spine Surgery
Minimally invasive spinal surgery deploys advanced technologies, like laparoscopy or microscopy to reduce incision size. When compared to traditional open spinal procedures, reported benefits may include a shortened recovery time, a reduced risk of complication, as well as minimized blood loss and pain. Not all conditions are amenable to minimally invasive surgery, and not all minimally invasive surgery has shown to be superior. Minimally invasive and open surgical techniques are commonly used to:
- Remove the tumor, affected bone, and surrounding tissue compressing the spinal column and spinal nerves
- Stabilize a weakened spine by means of spinal fusion and instrumentation
Spinal Surgery Recovery & Complications
Depending upon the type of surgery—minimally invasive or open—the period of recovery could take days to weeks or months. To prepare you for everyday activities, enrollment in a rehabilitation program is likely. Your doctor may also prescribe you post-operative medications to reduce swelling and pain. And, if the spinal tumor was malignant, radiation or chemotherapy may be recommended as a part of ongoing care. Spinal tumor surgery is a high risk surgery that may result in significant complications such as bleeding, infection, paralysis and in rare events even death. Making the appropriate decision with a team approach will enable the patient and family to make the best possible course of treatment.
Dr. Blecher operates out of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, one of the Nation’s leading hospitals. We have developed a team approach where other spine surgeons, general surgeons and intensive care physicians allow us to offer outstanding care to patients that may require surgical intervention for treatment of the cancer involvement of their spine. |
