Neurological Complications after Surgical Treatment of Metastatic Tumours of the Spine.

[b]Background.[/b] Postoperative impairment of neurological function is a rare but serious complication of surgical treatment of metastatic tumours located in the spine. This paper presents an analysis of the causes, symptoms and methods of treatment of spinal cord function impairment in the postoperative period.[b]Materials and methods. [/b]The study retrospectively analysed the treatment of 525 patients diagnosed with compression of neural structures and neurological deficits in the course of metastatic disease who were operated on in 2012-2015. The baseline degree of spinal cord damage was assessed with the Frankel scale. Surgical treatment methods were selected based on the results obtained with the Tomita system as well as the Tokuhashi and Bauer scores.[b]Results. [/b]A total of 8 (1.5%) cases of impaired neurological function were identified in the postoperative period. The spinal cord damage had no discernible cause in 6 cases. Symptoms of neurological function impairment occurred with a delay in 6 patients. In 2 cases, the symptoms were observed immediately after the end of the surgery. One patient demonstrated improved neurological status after revision surgery.[b]Conclusions.[/b] 1. Surgical decompression of the spinal cord in the course of neoplastic disease is rarely complicated by neurological function impairment. 2. Neurological complications occurred mainly after treatment of tumours located in the thoracic section of the spine. 3. Prognostic scores used for qualifying patients for appropriate surgical treatment focus mainly on patient survival and do not account for potential complications.