Malignant or benign tumors that form in the spinal cord or the surrounding membrane structure are called spinal cord tumors. These tumors, which develop for many reasons, mostly occur as a result of metastasis. This means that cancer cells from organs close to the spinal cord are carried by the blood. At this point, breast, lung, and prostate cancers in particular are most likely to metastasize. A spinal cord tumor, which shows itself with many symptoms, varies depending on the area it affects. Therefore, the symptoms of this condition vary from person to person. However, it is worth noting that the most important symptom is severe pain. It is important to diagnose a spinal cord tumor early as it affects the person’s physical movement and health status. These tumors that occur in the back or neck area are surgically removed. Therefore, surgery is usually the only treatment for spinal cord tumors.

Diagnosis Of Spinal Cord Tumors

As with any disease, there are some diagnostic methods for spinal cord tumors. The physical examination is the first thing the doctor does.  Radiological imaging and biochemical blood tests are then required. The treatment method is shaped according to the findings obtained from these diagnostic methods. General anesthesia or sedation is used to diagnose spinal cord tumors in children. Once diagnosed, the treatment method is determined according to the age of the person, the type of tumor, and the area it affects. However, the general treatment method for spinal cord tumors is surgery.

Why Is Surgery For Spinal Cord Tumors Performed?

There are many reasons to perform spinal cord surgery. In some cases, spinal cord tumors are treated with chemotherapy, radiation, and medication. However, these treatments may not give the desired result, especially for malignant tumors. Therefore, surgery can be an important solution. The reasons for spinal cord tumor surgery are as follows:

• Remove a benign or malignant tumor
• Relieve severe and persistent neck or back pain
• Eliminating difficulty walking
• Normalize the functioning of the intestinal and bladder systems
• Eliminate balance problems

As a result, spinal tumors are treated to prevent deformities of the spinal cord. Spinal surgery may also be required for spinal infections, herniated discs, and similar serious conditions. It is possible to achieve the best results in spinal cord tumor surgery performed by expert surgeons.

How To Prepare For Surgery?

Spinal cord tumor surgery requires a lot of precision. For this reason, the patient should be informed about many issues before the surgery. Taking into account the risk rates in the surgery, the patient should be informed about this issue. However, it must first be determined whether the patient is ready for this surgery. Before the spinal cord tumor surgery, local anesthesia is injected into the area to be operated on. A hollow needle is inserted into the spinal canal, and cancer cells are searched for and examined. After the patient is ready for surgery, surgical procedures can begin.

If primary malignant spinal cord tumors are detected, this operation is mandatory. After the surgery is decided, preliminary information is provided. At this point, the date of surgery is determined, and warnings are given one day before the surgery about what the patient should pay attention to. After the warnings and information are given, the day of surgery is expected.

Spinal Cord Tumors Surgery Process

As with any surgery, there are certain processes involved in spinal cord tumor surgery. The surgeon manages the processes before, during, and after the surgery. Thus, the patient is prevented from being negatively affected by the surgery. Detailed information about the processes involved in spinal cord tumor surgery is given below:

• Before The Surgery

Before the operation, if there are many blood vessels in the tumor, tumor embolization is performed. This procedure requires some auxiliary materials. Small metal coils, polymers, and microspheres are applied to the patient to reduce the risk of bleeding during surgery. After this procedure is completed, the patient is prepared by the anesthesiologists and the surgeon. The patient is put to sleep with general anesthesia before the surgery. Thus, the patient will not feel any pain or ache during the surgery. After the patient is placed in the appropriate position, the surgery begins.

• During The Surgery

At the beginning of the operation, the surgeon makes an incision in the affected area of the spinal cord. The tumor is removed using a microsurgical procedure. This process requires great care and precision. The tumor in the spinal cord is removed without causing any damage to the patient’s spine. Thus, no nerve damage occurs. Neurophysiological monitoring is used during the operation. In this way, damage to the nerves and senses in the operated area is presented in detail. This operation takes approximately 4–5 hours. After the tumor is removed and the necessary procedures are performed, the surgical intervention is completed by closing the incision.

• After The Surgery

There is a recovery period after spinal cord tumor surgery. The patient may need to stay in the hospital for a while to get his or her general health under control. It is quite normal to feel a loss of strength immediately after the operation. The necessary medications are given by the doctor during this process. Physical therapy is given for the patient to recover quickly and well. After the patient is discharged, he or she should visit the doctor at certain intervals. Also, a doctor should be consulted in case of complications, such as pain.

Risks Of Spinal Cord Tumors Surgery

Some risks may occur after surgery for a spinal tumor. The most important of these is spinal fluid leakage. After bone excision, there may be a risk of an unstable spine. However, to prevent these risks, the location of the tumors in the spine must be well-determined. Bleeding from spinal tumors during surgery is also considered a risk. However, this risk is avoided because the necessary procedures for the vessel will be performed before the operation. In addition, as with other surgeries, an infection can also occur. Damage to internal organs or nerves can also occur. Paralysis is also among the risks of spinal tumor surgery. However, since the surgery is performed with advanced technological devices, instruments, and materials, this can be avoided.

Spinal Cord Tumor Surgery Results

Thanks to today’s advanced medicine, it is possible to achieve positive results from spinal cord tumor surgery. In particular, a microsurgical procedure is used for this disease. This allows the tumor to be accessed and easily removed with the latest surgical instruments and materials. Thanks to these advanced devices, the risk of damage to the patient’s spinal health are very low. Therefore, it can be said that spinal cord tumor surgery is a safe procedure. In general, the surgery does not aim to remove the tumor completely. If it is completely removed, chemotherapy or radiation therapy is required. After this surgery, which may have temporary complications, the recovery process begins. This process may take some time. Depending on the health status of the person, it is possible to recover sometimes after weeks and sometimes after months. However, it is possible to have a healthy spine as long as the doctor’s orders are followed, the doctor’s warnings are followed, and regular exercises are performed.