[Vertebral implant as a treatment principle in tumors and metastases of the thoracic and lumbar spine].

We report the clinical course of 31 patients suffering from primary tumors or vertebral metastases treated by osteosynthesis with vertebral body implant. Surgical treatment of vertebral tumors aims at eliminating the compression, thus relieving the myelon and the roots as well as the reestablishment of the supporting function of the involved segments. Subjective and objective improvement was found in 64.5 per cent of the 31 patients. The conditions remained the same in 22.5 per cent. New symptoms occurred in 13.0 per cent. After tumor specific evaluation of the over-all survival period, plasmacytoma were found to have a more favourable course of a little more than two years. Patients with vertebral metastases died after an average of 10 months. In nearly all cases with postoperative improvement on the initial symptoms and signs, the symptoms could be improved permanently. We thus regard ventral curettage and parallel stabilisation, may be combined with dorsal stabilisation, as a means of improving the quality of life in these patients. By using the surgical technique employed by us sufficient stabilisation of the vertebral column can be achieved in order to enable quick mobilisation of the patients.