Spinal Cancer Surgery & Surgical Oncology Procedures
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Video: What Are the Advanced Surgical Techniques & Tools Used to Treat Neurological Cancers?
Dr. Baird discusses innovative and advanced surgical techniques neurosurgeons use to remove brain and spinal column tumors. He explains how the less invasive surgical procedures are performed and how they may benefit patients.Innovations in Spinal Cancer Surgery
CTCA neurosurgeon Dr. Clinton Baird describes how our doctors use minimally invasive surgical techniques to remove spinal tumors.
Surgery for Spinal Cancer
Spinal cancer treatment at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) sometimes involves surgery. We apply similar surgical strategies for brain tumors to spinal column tumors.
The goal of spinal cancer surgery depends on several factors, including the location and grade of the tumor, and the symptoms present.
When the tumor is limited only to one portion of the spinal column, we may perform surgery to completely remove the cancer. For metastatic spinal tumors, we may perform the minimum surgery necessary to relieve symptoms.
For example, we commonly use surgical strategies to treat spinal column compression and instability, and relieve pain. Spinal cancer surgery can also help to remove tissue pressing against the spinal cord and nerves or to relieve the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid.
Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques for Spinal Cancer
In the past, surgeries to address spinal tumors were relatively large. With advances in technology, we can perform many of these surgeries in a minimally invasive fashion. Minimally invasive spinal surgeries allow you to get back on your feet and return to normal activities more quickly, with less pain. This also allows you to maintain your nutrition and get back to treatment faster.
Kyphoplasty / Vertebroplasty
Compression fractures of the spinal vertebrae can cause severe back pain, spinal deformity, and loss of height. Our doctors can perform kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty to rebuild cracked or collapsed vertebrae.
In both type of surgery for spinal cancer, our doctors use image guidance to inject a rapidly hardening cement-like material directly into the fractured bone through a hollow needle. Each involves a short surgical and recovery time, and may help to:
- Relieve pain
- Restore height
- Strengthen the vertebra
- Reduce spinal deformity
- Stabilize fractures
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