Posterior surgery versus combined laminectomy and thoracoscopic surgery for treatment of dumbbell-type thoracic cord tumor: A long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of posterior surgery with combined laminectomy and thoracoscopic surgery for treating dumbbell-type thoracic cord tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 32 cases of dumbbell-type thoracic cord tumors treated by two surgical procedures in our center from February 2003 to July 2013. CASES WERE DIVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF SURGERY: Group A cases (n = 12) underwent posterior surgery followed by laminectomy, costotransversectomy and instrumentation; Group B cases (n = 20) underwent posterior laminectomy and anterior video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in a single-stage procedure. Operation time, blood loss, hospitalization, recovery of neurological function, and complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Complete surgical excision was achieved in both groups. All patients were followed up for an average of 7.4 ± 2.8 years (range, 3-13). At the final follow-up visit, there was no tumor recurrence and no differences in neurological results between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, the average operative duration, blood loss, hospitalization, and rate of complications were significantly lower in Group A compared to Group B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Both posterior surgery and the posterior surgery combined with anterior thoracoscopic surgery were effective for removing dumbbell-type thoracic cord tumors. However, posterior surgery alone was associated with reduced operative duration and rate of complications compared to the combined surgical approach.