Surgical decompression of anterior and XXXX compressing the spinal cord: a prospective study.

@entity5 @entity1 @entity16 @entity1494
Of 167 episodes of spinal epidural neoplastic compression, 86 were treated by operation. The surgical approach was prospectively selected according to the location of the @entity5 in the spinal canal. Decompression was achieved by 61 vertebral body resections (VBRs) and by 25 laminectomies. The indications for operation were: neurological relapse after previous radiotherapy, the need to make a tissue diagnosis, a @entity5 , and @entity16 during radiotherapy. Before VBR, 28% (17 of 61) were still able to walk, 51% (31 of 61) were parAparetic, and 21% (13 of 61) were paraplegic. Bowel and @entity1494 was present in 49% (30 of 61). After VBR, the outcome of only 57 procedures was available for evaluation because of the postoperative death of 4 @entity1 . Eighty per cent (46 of 57) were able to walk, 18% (10 of 57) were paraparetic, and 2% (1 of 57) were paraplegic. Ninety-three per cent had normal sphincter control. Before laminectomy, 8% (2 of 25) were ambulatory, 84% (21 of 25) were paraparetic, and 8% (2 of 25) were paraplegic. Bowel and @entity1494 was present in 76% (19 of 25). After laminectomy, only 23 procedures were evaluated because of the postoperative death of 2 @entity1 . Thirty-nine per cent (9 of 23) were ambulatory, 35% (8 of 23) were paraparetic, and 26% (6 of 23) were paraplegic. Fifty-seven per cent regained normal sphincter control. The operative mortality was 7% (4 of 61) in VBR and 8% (2 of 25) in laminectomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
