Thoracic Vertebral Hemangioma with Spinal Cord Compression: Multidisciplinary Surgical Treatment and Follow-up of Six Patients.

OBJECTIVE

To provide useful insights of multidisciplinary surgical treatment for vertebral hemangioma with spinal cord compression.

METHODS

From 2009 to 2014, data on six patients who were diagnosed with cord compression vertebral hemangioma were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. There were five women and one man with a mean age of 48.6 years (range, 26-68 years). All the patients were treated by multidisciplinary approach, including use of gelfoam, pedicle screw instrumentation, vertebroplasty, and decompression laminectomy. Neurological status and Frankel grades were documented, CT scan and MRI were performed after surgery.

RESULTS

The follow-up period ranged from 8 to 54 months. Mean blood loss was around 367 mL, and the mean surgical time was 2.30 h. All patients had uneventful intraoperative and postoperative courses and reported symptomatic and neurological relief to varying degrees, at an average follow-up period of 23 months. Bone cement distribution was disseminated homogeneously over the affected vertebra and no leakage was observed. All the patients had a complete restoration to Frankel grade E. The postoperative and follow-up imaging showed that the implant was in perfect position, and no recurrence occurred in all patients.

CONCLUSION

The vertebral hemangioma with cord compression is a challenge to surgeons for therapeutic improvement, and an active involvement of several disciplines as well as performance of multidisciplinary surgical treatment can be crucial in achieving favorable results.