Abstract

Multiple myeloma accounts for 5-10% of all cancers associated with spinal cord compression. In this study, the surgical results of patients with multiple myeloma operated for spinal epidural compression were evaluated. Between 2011 and 2017, twenty-one patients were operated by posterior decompression for spinal cord compression, whose pathological diagnosis was multiple myeloma in our hospital's neurosurgery clinic included in the study. Demographic, clinical and radiological features of the patients and their status after surgery were examined. The mean age of the 21 patients was 62.6 ± 9.3. Thirteen patients were male and 8 were female. When the chain isotype was found in protein electrophoresis, the maximum IgG (52.4%) was present. The mean Karnofsky performance of the patients was 46.2 ± 17.7. Significant improvement was observed in the postoperative motor strength of the patients (p = 0.0001). In addition, postoperative pain-VAS scores-was significantly reduced (p = 0.0001). 90% of the patients were operated under emergency conditions. The number of patients who were operated stabilization with decompression was 5 (23.8%). When the radiological data were analyzed, the mean amount of compression in the operated vertebrae was 33.1% and the mean shrinkage rate of the tumor was 65.4%. Although spinal canal narrowing was observed in all patients, compression fracture was present in 16 patients (76.2%). The mean follow-up period was 22.3 months. During the follow-up period, 9 patients died, 5 of them were in the first year. Postoperative complications were wound infection in 2 patients, chronic renal failure in 1 patient and bilateral pleural effusion in 1 patient. Surgical treatment should be the first option if there is a progressive neurological deficit in patients with spinal cord compression due to multiple myeloma. With surgical treatment, decompression of the spinal cord compression, pain control and stabilization can be performed.

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