The Polster vertebral implant for tumors of the spine.

The author reports the technique and clinical course of patients suffering from metastatic spine tumors, treated by osteosynthesis with the Polster vertebral body implant and bone cement. All tumors were treated by an open ventral procedure: curettage of the tumor, insertion of the tumor device, and correction and stabilization of the lost height. In addition, bone cement was used to strengthen the reconstruction. Subjective and objective clinical improvement was found in 64 per cent, unchanged condition in 23, per cent and new symptoms occurred in 13 per cent. In nearly all cases of clinical improvement, no deterioration recurred. Patients with metastasis died after an average of 10 months, plasmacytomas were found to have an overall survival of about two years.