Surgical management of spinal metastases: the postoperative quality of life.

Objective: The surgical treatment of spinal metastases remains controversial. Increasing life expectancy has resulted in greater interest in overall quality of life, pain and neurologic improvements. There are few prospective studies on functional and quality of life outcomes in patients with vertebral metastases.

Minimally invasive lumbar disectomy with the tubular retractor system: 4-7 years follow-up.

Background: Herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) is a common cause of low back pain. The conventional technique could injure to the surrounding structures. The tubular retractor system (METRx-X tube, Medtronic, Inc, Minneapolis, USA) is instrument to improve visualization and limited soft tissue damage for minimal invasive lumbar discetomy.