Multilevel en bloc spondylectomy for tumors of the thoracic and lumbar spine is challenging but rewarding.

Background: Over the years, en bloc spondylectomy has proven its efficacy in controlling spinal tumors and improving survival rates. However, there are few reports of large series that critically evaluate the results of multilevel en bloc spondylectomies for spinal neoplasms.

Questions/purposes: Using data from a large spine tumor center, we answered the following questions: (1) Does multilevel total en bloc spondylectomy result in acceptable function, survival rates, and local control in spinal neoplasms? (2) Is reconstruction after this procedure feasible? (3) What complications are associated with this procedure? (4) is it possible to achieve adequate surgical margins with this procedure?

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 38 patients undergoing multilevel total en bloc spondylectomy by a single surgeon (AL) from 1994 to 2011.