Surgical Efficacy and Prognosis of 54 Cases of Spinal Metastases from Breast Cancer

OBJECTIVE To analyze the efficacy and complications of spinal metastasis surgery for breast cancer; to understand the survival and the influencing factors; and to verify the predictive ability of the currently used spinal metastasis cancer survival prediction scoring system on the 1-year postoperative survival rate. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on 54 patients with spinal metastases from breast cancer who underwent open surgery after multidisciplinary consultation in our hospital from January 2017 to October 2020. Patient demographic-related variables, breast cancer-related variables, spinal disorders-related variables, and treatment-related variables were collected. Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method, one-way tests were performed using the Log-rank method for factors that might affect prognosis, and candidate variables were included in the Cox model for multifactor analysis. The Tomita score, modified Tokuhashi score, modified Bauer score, modified Katagiri score were examined by plotting the subject operating characteristic curve (ROC) and calculating the area under curve (AUC) The AUC was used to test the predictive ability of the SORG (Skeletal Oncology Research Group) original version, SORG line graph version, and SORG web version for 1-year postoperative survival in patients with spinal metastases from breast cancer. RESULTS The average age was 51.3±8.6 years in 54 patients. Twenty-one patients underwent vertebral body debulking surgery, 32 patients underwent palliative canal decompression, and 1 patient underwent vertebral en bloc resection, with an operative time of 229.3 ± 87.6 minutes and intraoperative bleeding of 1018.1 ± 931.1 ml. Postoperatively, the patient experienced significant pain relief and gradual recovery from nerve injury. Major surgical complications included cerebrospinal fluid leakage, secondary spinal cord injury, spinal tumor progression, and broken of fixation. The mean survival time was 32.2 months, including a 6-month survival rate of 90.7%, a 1-year survival rate of 77.8%, and a 2-year survival rate of 60.3%. Univariate analysis showed that pre-operation with neurological deficits, hormone-insensitive type, with brain metastases were potential risk factors for poor prognosis. Multifactorial analysis showed that hormone-insensitive type and concomitant brain metastasis were independent risk factors associated with poor prognosis. The SORG web version had good ability to predict 1-year postoperative survival in patients with spinal metastases from breast cancer. Conclusion Spinal metastasis from breast cancer has good surgical efficacy, low postoperative recurrence rate, and relatively long survival time after surgery. Patients with hormone-insensitive type, with brain metastasis have poor prognosis, and SORG web version can predict patients' 1-year survival more accurately.

Anterior Corpectomy and Plating with Carbon-PEEK Instrumentation for Cervical Spinal Metastases: Clinical and Radiological Outcomes

Background: Anterior cervical corpectomy and plating has been recognized as a valuable approach for the surgical treatment of cervical spinal metastases. This study aimed to report the surgical, clinical and radiological outcomes of anterior carbon-PEEK instrumentations for cervical spinal metastases. Methods: Demographical, clinical, surgical and radiological data were collected from 2017 to 2020. The Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire for neck pain, EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire for quality of life, Nurick scale for myelopathy and radiological parameters (segmental Cobb angle and cervical lordosis) were collected before surgery, at 6 weeks postoperatively and follow-up. Results: Seventeen patients met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 60.9 ± 7.6 years and mean follow-up was 12.9 ± 4.0 months. The NDI (55.4 ± 11.7 to 25.1 ± 5.4, p < 0.001) scores and the EORTC QLQ-C30 global health/QoL significantly improved postoperatively and at the last follow-up. The segmental Cobb angle (10.7° ± 5.6 to 3.1° ± 2.2, p < 0.001) and cervical lordosis (0.9° ± 6.7 to −6.2 ± 7.8, p = 0.002) significantly improved postoperatively. Only one minor complication (5.9%) was recorded. Conclusions: Carbon/PEEK implants represent a safe alternative to commonly used titanium ones and should be considered in cervical spinal metastases management due to their lower artifacts in postoperative imaging and radiation planning. Further larger comparative and cost-effectiveness studies are needed to confirm these results.

Risk factors for wound-related complications after surgical stabilization of spinal metastases with a special focus on the effect of postoperative radiation therapy

Background Advancements in the field of oncological therapies during the last decades have led to a significantly prolonged survival of cancer patients. This has led to an increase in the incidence of spinal metastases. The purpose of this study was to assess risk factors for wound-related complications after surgical stabilization of spinal metastases with a special focus on the effect of postoperative RT and its timing. Methods Patients who had been treated for metastatic spine disease by surgical stabilization followed by radiotherapy between 01/2012 and 03/2019 were included and a retrospective chart review was performed. Results Of 604 patients who underwent stabilizing surgery for spinal metastases, 237 patients (mean age 66 years, SD 11) with a mean follow-up of 11 months (SD 7) were eligible for further analysis. Forty-one patients (17.3%) had wound-related complications, 32 of them before and 9 after beginning of the RT. Revision surgery was necessary in 26 patients (11.0%). Body weight (p = 0.021), obesity (p = 0.018), ASA > 2 (p = 0.001), and start of radiation therapy within 21 days after surgery (p = 0.047) were associated with an increased risk for wound complications. Patients with chemotherapy within 3 weeks of surgery (12%) were more likely to have a wound-related surgical revision (p = 0.031). Conclusion Body weight, obesity and ASA > 2 were associated with an increased risk for wound complications. Patients with chemotherapy within 3 weeks of the surgery were more likely to have a wound-related revision surgery. Patients who had begun radiation therapy within 21 days after surgery were more likely to have a wound complication compared to patients who waited longer.

COMPLICATIONS OF SURGICAL TREATMENT OF SPINAL METASTASES

ABSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate the complications of surgical treatment in a group of patients with spinal metastasis with epidural compression, undergoing surgical treatment. Methods: This is a comparative retrospective study (level of evidence III), which evaluated 96 patients with spinal metastases undergoing surgical treatment. Intra- and postoperative complications were obtained from the patients’ medical records and correlated with the following clinical characteristics: tumor type, tumor location, neurological deficit, age, number of affected vertebrae, Tokuhashi scale, Tomita scale, Karnofsky performance scale, and type of approach. Results: Complications of surgical treatment were observed in 29 (30.20%) patients. Surgical wound infection was the most frequent complication, observed in 15% of patients. Conclusions: Surgical treatment of spinal metastases presents complications in about 30% of patients and their occurrence should be considered in the treatment planning, weighing the risks and benefits for achieving the treatment goals. Level III evidence; Retrospective Study.

Expectations of treatment outcomes in patients with spinal metastases; what do we tell our patients? A qualitative study

Background Realistic pre-treatment expectations are important and have been associated with post-treatment health related quality of life (HRQOL). Patient expectations are greatly influenced by physicians, as they are the primary resource for information. This study aimed to explore the communication practices of physicians regarding treatment outcomes for patients with spinal metastases, and physician experiences with patients’ pre-treatment expectations. Methods An international qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with physicians routinely involved in treating metastatic spine disease (spine surgeons, radiation and medical oncologists, and rehabilitation specialists) was conducted. Physicians were interviewed about the content and extent of information they provide to patients with spinal metastases regarding treatment options, risks and treatment outcomes. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a thematic coding network. Results After 22 interviews data saturation occurred. The majority of the physicians indicated that they currently do not establish patients’ pre-treatment expectations, despite acknowledging the importance of these expectations. Spine surgeons often believe that patient expectations are disproportionate. Physicians expressed they manage expectations by detailing the most common risks and providing a broad but nonspecific overview of treatment outcomes. While the palliative intent seems clear to the physicians, their perception is that the implications of a palliative treatment remains elusive to most patients. Conclusion This study highlights the current gap in patient-physician communication regarding expectations of treatment outcomes of patients with spinal metastases. These results warrant further research to improve communication practices and determine the effect of patient expectations on patient reported outcomes in this population.

Prognostic value of the Tokuhashi scale when choosing a method of surgical treatment of metastatic lesions of the spine

Introduction. Metastatic spinal lesion remains one of the most difficult problems of modern medicine. The purpose of treatment of patients with metastatic spinal lesion is to reduce pain, improve the quality of life, restore stability in the affected segment, prevent or reduce neurological deficits. In order to build the right treatment tactics, it is necessary to evaluate the prognosis of the life of a patient with spinal metastases before treatment.The study objective is to evaluate the prognostic significance of the Tokuhashi scale in patients with metastatic spinal lesion.Materials and methods. The study included 124 patients with metastatic spinal lesion operated in the spinal department in the period from March 2013 to July 2019 (64 (52 %) men and 60 (48%) women). The average age was 59 years and ranged from 18 to 78 years. The catamnesis ranged from 1 month to 6 years. 6 (5 %) spinal tumors were radically removed, palliative removal was performed in 77 (62 %) cases. In the remaining cases, 41 (33 %) underwent vertebroplasty. The mandatory diagnostic protocol of the preoperative examination included oncological status, clinical and neurological examination. The functional status of the patient was assessed on the Karnofski scale, life expectancy – on the Tokuhashi scale. In terms of preoperative examination, patients underwent computed tomography examination with intravenous contrast of three zones: the thoracic, abdominal cavities and pelvic region to determine the degree of dissemination of the process and, in some cases, to identify the primary focus. Currently, positron emission tomography is the optimal method of investigation at the preoperative stage. However, this method is not yet available in all clinics, so performing computed tomography scans of three zones is currently the optimal “gold standard” for examining this category of patients..Results. The life expectancy estimate was calculated for each patient according to the Tokuhashi scale (2005). Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves within the Tokuhashi prognostic groups. The median survival within the Tokuhashi groups was more than 3 years for the group of 12–15 points (life expectancy over a year), 14 months for the group of 9–11 points (life expectancy 6 to 12 months) and 7 months for the group of 1–8 points (life expectancy less than 6 months). The Cox model was used to identify factors related to survival.Conclusion. Determining the tactics of surgical treatment of a patient with a metastatic lesion of the spine is a complex and multicomponent question to which there is no unambiguous answer. A multidisciplinary consultation is currently the most adequate and reliable way to determine the treatment strategy for this category of patients. The use of the Tokuhashi prognostic scale is an additional effective tool for determining the life expectancy of patients with spinal metastases, and thus, in some cases, serve as the tool with which it is possible to determine the tactics of surgical treatment of patients.