A new method of thoracic and lumbar body replacement for spinal tumors: technical note.

Anterior decompressive procedures have gained more widespread usage in the treatment of anterior compressive lesions of the spinal cord due to neoplasms. Alternative methods of vertebral body replacement that use a modified silastic tube placed into adjacent vertebral segments and filled with methyl methacrylate cement are described. The technique is reserved for patients with limited longevity as the result of the malignant nature of their disease process.