Spinal metastasis: a retrospective study validating the treatment algorithm

M. Cappuccio, A. Gasbarrini, P. Van Urk, S. Bandiera, S. Boriani

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Spine Surgery, Ospedale Maggiore “C.A. Pizzardi”, Bologna (Italy)

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• Orthopedics

Abstract. – A retrospective clinical study was conducted to validating the treatment algorithm in patients with spinal metastasis. The study participants were 43 patients with spinal metastasis from carcinoma. Since most interventions are palliative we had to seek for clear definitions to describe the results, aiming to increase the quality of life. To this purpose, we would introduce the concept of “target achievement”. We presume that the target is achieved when all the following findings are present: a survival rate which is not inferior to the average, improvement or the maintenance of the neurological condition and achievement of local control.
The results of this study demonstrate that performing the treatment suggested by the algorithm, the majority of the patients have a good residual quality of life. Worse results are obtained when a more aggressive treatment is selected.

Corresponding Author: Alessandro Gasbarrini, MD; e-mail: boova@libero.it

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