Metastatic Spine Tumour Surgery Research Articles

When Would Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery Not Be Preferable for Metastatic Spine Disease?

Metastatic spine tumor surgery (MSTS) is an important treatment modality of metastatic spinal disease (MSD). Open spine surgery (OSS) was previously the gold standard of treatment till the early 2010s. However, advancements in MSTS in recent years have led to the advent of minimally invasive spinal surgery (MISS) techniques for the treatment of MSD. The clear benefits of MISS have resulted in a current paradigm shift toward today's gold standard of MISS and early adjuvant radiotherapy in treating MSD patients. Nonetheless, despite improvements in surgical techniques and the rise of literature supporting MISS for MSD, there are still certain situations whereby MISS is not desirable or even suitable. There has also yet to be any literature describing the considerations of not using MISS in MSD in today's clinical context. A narrative review was conducted for this manuscript. All studies related to OSS and MISS in MSTS were included. A total of 54 studies were included in this review. These studies discussed various advantages of MISS for MSD in today's clinical context, including the patient profile, location of vertebrae involved with metastasis requiring treatment, tumor characteristics, as well as equipment availability. This study establishes situations in which MISS can be less applicable despite the advantages it may confer over traditional OSS. MSTS should be individualized, depending on the experience of the surgeon. OSS is a time-tested approach that still holds weight in MSTS and should be readily utilized depending on the clinical situation.

Wound complications following spine tumor surgery: Risk factors and prevention

Surgical site infections (SSI) and wound complications are common following primary and metastatic spine tumor surgery. Some risks factors include pre-operative radiation therapy, malnutrition, revision surgeries, length of surgery and co-morbidities. Some strategies to decrease wound complications include plastic surgery closure and use of betadine irrigation and vancomycin intrawound power. However, larger series prospective randomized studies are needed in order advance the field of spine oncology and to continue to decrease wound complications.

Nonmetallic Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polyetheretherketone Implants Vs Titanium Implants: Analysis of Clinical Outcomes and Influence on Postoperative Radiotherapy Planning in Metastatic Spine Tumor Surgery.

Titanium has been the conventional implant material of choice for fixation in both primary and metastatic spine tumor surgeries (MSTS). However, these implants result in artifact generation during postoperative computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, resulting in poor planning of radiotherapy (RT) and suboptimal tumor surveillance. Carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK) implants have gained momentum for instrumentation in MSTS due to their radiolucent properties. In this study, the perioperative outcomes, postoperative imaging artifacts, and dosimetric data of CFR-PEEK implants to titanium implants were compared to assess for potential benefits in postoperative RT planning in patients undergoing MSTS. This is a retrospective study involving 62 patients who underwent operations for MSTS. The cohort of CFR-PEEK fixations (n = 20) was compared with a series of patients operated using titanium implants (n = 42). Patient-related data, including demographics, tumor pathology and extent of morbidity, intraoperative data, functional outcome, and RT-related data, were recorded for both groups. Primary outcome measures for RT data were amount of artifact generated on postoperative imaging and the time taken to contour them. All patients were followed up postoperatively for a minimum of 2 years or until death, whichever was earlier. Both groups had similar clinical outcomes for pain and overall survival predictability preoperatively (P = 0.786). The mean number of levels instrumented by titanium screws was 5.69 ± 2.64, while for CFR-PEEK screws it was 4.26 ± 1.05. Mean volume of artifact generated during postoperative computed tomography was 73.4 ± 50.43 mm3 in the titanium group and 20.0 ± 20.7 mm3 in the CFR-PEEK group (P < 0.001). The mean time taken to contour the artifacts was 17.3 ± 5.84 minutes in titanium group and 9.60 ± 7.17 minutes in CFR-PEEK group (P = 0.049). Our study confirms that CFR-PEEK screws significantly reduce artifact generation and the time taken to contour them during postoperative RT planning while delivering equivalent clinical and functional outcomes as compared with standard titanium implants.

Clinical performance of implanted devices used in surgical treatment of patients with spinal tumors: a systematic review

PurposeImplanted devices used in metastatic spine tumor surgery (MSTS) include pedicle screws, fixation plates, fixation rods, and interbody devices. A material to be used to fabricate any of these devices should possess an array of properties, which include biocompatibility, no toxicity, bioactivity, low wear rate, low to moderate incidence of artifacts during imaging, tensile strength and modulus that are comparable to those of cortical bone, high fatigue strength/long fatigue life, minimal or no negative impact on radiotherapy (RT) planning and delivery, and high capability for fusion to the contiguous bone. The shortcomings of Ti6Al4V alloy for these applications with respect to these desirable properties are well recognized, opening the field for an investigation about novel biomaterials that could replace the current gold standard. Previously published reviews on this topic have exhibited significant shortcomings in the studies they included, such as a small, heterogenous sample size and the lack of a cost-benefit analysis, extremely useful to understand the practical possibility of applying a novel material on a large scale. Therefore, this review aims to collect information about the clinical performance of these biomaterials from the most recent literature, with the objective of deliberating which could potentially be better than titanium in the future, with particular attention to safety, artifact production and radiotherapy planning interference. The significant promise showed by analyzing the clinical performance of these devices warrants further research through prospective studies with a larger sample size also taking into account each aspect of the production and use of such materials.MethodsThe Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to improve the reporting of the review. The search was performed from March 2022 to September 2023.ResultsAt the end of the screening process, 20 articles were considered eligible for this study. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), Carbon-fibre reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK), long carbon fiber reinforced polymer (LCFRP), Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and carbon screw and rods were used in the included studies.ConclusionCFR-PEEK displays a noninferior safety and efficacy profile to titanium implanted devices. However, it also has other advantages. By decreasing artifact production, it is able to increase detection of local tumor recurrence and decrease radiotherapy dose perturbation, ultimately bettering prognosis for patients necessitating adjuvant treatment. Nonetheless, its drawbacks have not been explored fully and still require further investigation in future studies. This does not exclude the fact that CFR-PEEK could be a valid alternative to titanium in the near future.

AB074. Propensity-score matched analysis to evaluate the safety and utility of intraoperative cell-salvaged autologous blood transfusion in metastatic spine tumour surgery.

Blood loss is an important consideration in metastatic spine tumour surgery (MSTS). Allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) is the current standard of blood replenishment for MSTS despite known complications. Salvaged blood transfusion (SBT) through intraoperative cell salvage addresses the majority of complications related to ABT. However, the use of SBT in MSTS still remains controversial. We aim to conduct a prospective propensity-score (PS) matched analysis to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of intraoperative cell salvage (IOCS) in MSTS. Our study included 98 patients who underwent MSTS from 2014-2017. A PS matched cohort was created using the relevant and available predictors of treatment assignment and outcomes of interest. Clinical outcomes consisting of overall survival (OS), as well tumour progression (TP) that was evaluated using RECIST (v1.1) were compared in the matched cohort. Our study had a total of 98 patients with a mean age of 60 years old. A total of 33 patients received SBT. Overall median blood loss was 600 mL [interquartile range (IQR): 300-1,000 mL] and overall median blood transfusion (BT) was 620 mL (IQR: 110-1,600 mL). Group PS matching included 30 patients who received ABT and 28 patients who received SBT. There was also no significant difference between the OS of patients who underwent ABT or SBT (P=0.19). SBT did not show any significant increase in 4-year tumour progression [PS matched hazard ratio (HR) 3.659; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.346-38.7; P=0.28]. SBT has been shown to have similar clinical outcomes to that of ABT in patients undergoing MSTS, with potential benefits of avoiding complications and costs of ABT. This will be the first long-term PS matched analysis to report on the clinical outcomes of SBT and affirms the clinical role of SBT in MSTS today.

AB075. When would minimally invasive spinal surgery not be preferable for metastatic spine disease?-a narrative review.

Metastatic spine tumour surgery (MSTS) is an important treatment modality of metastatic spinal disease (MSD). Open spine surgery (OSS) was previously the gold standard of treatment. However, advancements in MSTS in recent years has resulted in a current paradigm shift towards today's gold standard of minimally invasive spinal surgery (MISS) and early adjuvant RT in treating MSD patients. Nonetheless, there are still certain situations whereby MISS is not desirable or even suitable. There has also yet to be any literature describing the considerations for not using MISS in MSD in today's clinical context. We aim to bridge the gap where OSS should be considered with caution and highlight situations where MISS is preferable using the available literature and personal experience. This narrative review was conducted using PubMed, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), The Cochrane Library and Scopus databases through August 31, 2023. Inclusion criteria for the review were studies with discussion on the type of surgery in MSTS. A total of 52 studies were included in this review. We discussed various advantages and situations appropriate for MISS for MSD in today's clinical context. Nonetheless, there are still various unique circumstances in which MISS may be less suitable. MISS is less feasible in patients of paediatric profile, having short stature or having had previous surgery at the level of operation. Occipitocervical and cervicothoracic location of vertebrae metastasis also makes MISS less feasible due to access and imaging difficulty. MISS for tumours which are hypersclerotic and hypervascular can also result in more difficulty for cannulation of MISS probes as well as control of bleeding respectively, and hence will be less encouraged in the above settings. Our review will be the first to discuss circumstances in which MISS is less applicable, despite the advantages it may confer over traditional OSS. MSTS should be individualized to the patient, depending on the experience of the surgeon. OSS is still a time-tested approach that holds weight in MSTS and should be readily utilized depending on the clinical situation.

Predictors of Clavien-Dindo Grade III-IV or Grade V Complications after Metastatic Spinal Tumor Surgery: An Analysis of Sociodemographic, Socioeconomic, Clinical, Oncologic, and Operative Parameters.

The rate of major complications and 30-day mortality after surgery for metastatic spinal tumors is relatively high. While most studies have focused on baseline comorbid conditions and operative parameters as risk factors, there is limited data on the influence of other parameters such as sociodemographic or socioeconomic data on outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed data from 165 patients who underwent surgery for spinal metastases between 2012-2023. The primary outcome was development of major complications (i.e., Clavien-Dindo Grade III-IV complications), and the secondary outcome was 30-day mortality (i.e., Clavien-Dindo Grade V complications). An exploratory data analysis that included sociodemographic, socioeconomic, clinical, oncologic, and operative parameters was performed. Following multivariable analysis, independent predictors of Clavien-Dindo Grade III-IV complications were Frankel Grade A-C, lower modified Bauer score, and lower Prognostic Nutritional Index. Independent predictors of Clavien-Dindo Grade V complications) were lung primary cancer, lower modified Bauer score, lower Prognostic Nutritional Index, and use of internal fixation. No sociodemographic or socioeconomic factor was associated with either outcome. Sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors did not impact short-term surgical outcomes for metastatic spinal tumor patients in this study. Optimization of modifiable factors like nutritional status may be more important in improving outcomes in this complex patient population.

AB081. Experience using CFR-PEEK implants in metastatic and primary spine tumour surgery: a single centre retrospective study.

Titanium has been the conventional implant material of choice for fixation in both primary and metastatic spine tumour surgeries (MSTS). However, these implants result in artefact generation during post-operative computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), resulting in poor planning of radiotherapy (RT) and suboptimal tumour surveillance. Carbon fibre-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK) implants have gained momentum for instrumentation in MSTS due to their radiolucent properties. This in turn does not sacrifice the biomechanical strength of the implants. In this study, we compared the peri-operative outcomes, post operative imaging artefacts and dosimetricdata of CFR-PEEK implants to titanium implants to asses for potential benefits in post-operative RT planning in patients who underwent MSTS. This is a retrospective study involving 42 patients operated for MSTS. Patient-related data including demographics, tumour pathology, intra-operative data, functional outcome, and RT-related data were collected for both groups. All patients were followed-up post-operatively for a minimum of 2 years or until demise, whichever was earlier. In our study, 20 (47.6%) patients had CFR-PEEK implants, while 22 (52.4%) of patients had titanium implants used for MSTS. Both groups of patients had similar clinical outcomes for pain and overall survival predictability pre-operatively (P>0.05). Mean number of levels instrumented by titanium screws were 6.8±2.93, while for the CFR-PEEK screws were 4.07±1.05. Mean volume of artefact generated during post operative CT was 75.1±43.4 mm3 in titanium group and 13.3±14.2 mm3 in CFR-PEEK group (P=0.005). The mean time taken to contour the artefacts was 17.3±5.84 minutes in the titanium group, while the CFR-PEEK group took 9.60±7.17 minutes (P=0.049). Our study suggests that carbon fibre reinforced PEEK screws significantly reduce artefact generation and the time taken to contour them during post-operative RT planning, while delivering equivalent clinical and functional outcomes as compared to standard titanium implants.

AB077. An evaluation of prognostic scoring systems for survival in a surgically treated cohort of 318 metastatic spine tumour surgery patients.

Survival prognostication plays a key role in the decision-making process for the surgical treatment of patients with spinal metastases. In the past traditional scoring systems such as the modified Tokuhashi and Tomita scoring systems have been used extensively, however in recent years their accuracy has been called into question. This has led to the development of machine learning algorithms to predict survival. In this study, we aim to compare the accuracy of prognostic scoring systems in a surgically treated cohort of patients. This is a retrospective review of 318 surgically treated spinal metastases patients between 2009 and 2021. The primary outcome measured was survival from the time of diagnosis. Predicted survival at 3 months, 6 months and 1 year based on the prognostic scoring system was compared to actual survival. Predictive values of each scoring system were measured via area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC). The following scoring systems were compared, Modified Tokuhashi (MT), Tomita (T), Modified Bauer (MB), Van Den Linden (VDL), Oswestry (O), New England Spinal Metastases score (NESMS), Global Spine Study Tumor Group (GSTSG) and Skeletal Oncology Research Group (SORG) scoring systems. For predicting 3 months survival, the GSTSG 0.980 (0.949-1.0) and NESM 0.980 (0.949-1.0) had outstanding predictive value, while the SORG 0.837 (0.751-0.923) and O 0.837 (0.775-0.900) had excellent predictive value. While for 6 months survival, only the O 0.819 (0.758-0.880) had excellent predictive value and the GSTSG 0.791(0.725-0.857) had acceptable predictive value. For 1 year survival, the NESM 0.871 (0.822-0.919) had excellent predictive value and the O 0.722 (0.657-0.786) had acceptable predictive value. The MT, T and MB scores had an area under the curve (AUC) of <0.5 for 3-month, 6-month and 1-year survival. Increasingly, traditional scoring systems such as the MT, T and MB scoring systems have become less predictive. While newer scoring systems such as the GSTSG, NESM and SORG have outstanding to excellent predictive value, there is no one survival scoring system that is able to accurately prognosticate survival at all 3 time points. A multidisciplinary, personalised approach to survival prognostication is needed.

Risk Factors for 90-Day Readmission Among Patients with Metastatic Spine Tumors in South Korea: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Population-based studies on the cause of readmission within 90 days after surgery or radiotherapy for metastatic spine tumors are scarce. We aimed to investigate the risk factors for readmission within 90 days after initial surgical or radiation treatment for metastatic spine tumors. Patients who were diagnosed with metastatic spine tumors between 2012 and 2019 and underwent spinal magnetic resonance imaging within 1 year were classified according to treatment (surgical or radiotherapy groups), and the causes of the 90-day readmission and patient characteristics were compared. Overall, data from 15,815 patients (surgical group, 13,974 patients; radiotherapy group, 1,841 patients) were evaluated. Radiotherapy was preferred in younger and male patients with a high Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), whereas surgery was mainly performed in patients with lumbar metastasis. Radiotherapy, age of 30-69 years, male sex, and CCI > 1 increased the risk of 90-day readmission in patients with metastatic spine tumors. The main causes of 90-day readmission among patients with metastatic spine tumors who received radiotherapy included tumor recurrence, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and treatment of other organ metastases with radiotherapy. These study findings offer a better understanding of the causes of readmission following radiotherapy or surgical treatment in patients with metastatic spine tumors, and these results can help reduce postoperative morbidity and medical costs among these patients.

Does Elective Admission vs. Emergency Department Presentation Affect Surgical Outcomes in Metastatic Spine Surgery?

Approximately 20% of patients with metastatic spine disease develop symptomatic spinal cord compression, and these patients can present urgently to the emergency department (ED) or, in a more organized fashion, to a clinic. In a cohort of patients undergoing metastatic spine surgery, we sought to (1) determine the rate of ED presentation, (2) identify preoperative and perioperative risk factors associated with ED presentation, and (3) evaluate whether ED vs. clinic presentation impacts long-term outcomes. A single-institution, multi-surgeon, retrospective cohort study was undertaken of patients undergoing metastatic spinal tumor surgery between 02/2010 and 01/2021. The primary exposure variable was presentation setting, dichotomized to the ED vs. clinic. The primary outcomes were postoperative functional status, measured with the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) and McCormick Scale (MMS), local recurrence (LR), and overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included complications and readmissions. A total of 311 patients underwent metastatic spine surgery (51.7% ED vs. 48.3% clinic). Those presenting to the ED had higher rates of smoking (21.7% vs. 16.0%, p = 0.02), were more likely to have 2+ comorbidities (47.2% vs. 32.7%, p = 0.011), and were more likely to have public insurance (43.5% vs. 32.0%, p = 0.043). Preoperative KPS was lower in ED patients (p < 0.001), while the Bilsky score was higher (p = 0.049). ED patients had higher rates of oligometastatic disease (p = 0.049), higher total decompressed levels (p = 0.041), and higher rates of costotransversectomy (p = 0.031) compared to clinic patients. Length of stay was significantly longer for ED patients (7.7 ± 6.1 vs. 6.1 ± 5.8 days, p = 0.020), and they were less likely to be discharged home (52.2% vs. 69.3%, p = 0.025). ED presentation was significantly associated with shorter overall survival (HR =1.53 95% CI = 1.13-2.08, p = 0.006). Of patients undergoing metastatic spine disease, approximately half presented through the ED vs. clinic. ED patients had higher rates of smoking, public insurance, and higher Bilsky score. ED patients also underwent more extensive surgery, had longer LOS, were less likely discharged home, and most importantly, had a shorter overall survival. These results suggest that initial presentation for patients undergoing surgery for metastatic spine disease significantly impacts outcomes, and signs/symptoms of metastatic spine disease should be recognized as soon as possible to prevent ED presentation.

Earlier Radiation Is Associated with Improved 1-Year Survival After Metastatic Spine Tumor Surgery

ObjectivesIn patients undergoing metastatic spine surgery, we sought to: 1) report time to postoperative radiation therapy (RT), 2) describe the predictive factors of time to postoperative RT, and 3) determine if earlier postoperative RT is associated with improved local recurrence (LR) and overall survival (OS). MethodsA single-center, retrospective cohort study was undertaken of all patients undergoing spine surgery for extradural metastatic disease and receiving RT within 3-months postoperatively between 02/2010-01/2021. Time to postoperative RT was dichotomized at <1month vs. 1-3months. The primary outcomes were LR, OS, and 1-year survival. Secondary outcomes were wound complication, Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS), and Modified McCormick Scale (MMS). Regression analyses controlled for age, BMI, tumor size, preoperative RT, preoperative/postoperative chemotherapy, and type of RT. ResultsOf 76 patients undergoing spinal metastasis surgery and receiving postoperative RT within 3-months, 34(44.7%) received RT within 1month and 42(55.2%) within 1-3months. Patients with larger tumor size (β=-3.58,95%CI=-6.59,-0.57,p=0.021) or new neurological deficits (β=-16.21,95%CI=-32.21,-0.210,p=0.047) had a shorter time to RT. No significant association was found between time to RT and LR or OS on multivariable logistic/Cox regression. However, patients who received RT between 1-3month had a lower odd of 1-year survival compared to those receiving RT within 1month (OR=0.18,95%CI=0.04-0.74,p=0.022). Receiving RT within 1month vs. 1-3month was not associated with wound complications (7.1% vs. 2.9%,p=0.556)(OR=4.40,95%CI=0.40-118.0,p=0.266) or KPS/MMS. ConclusionsSpine surgeons, oncologists, and radiation oncologists should make every effort to start RT within 1 month to improve 1-year survival after metastatic spine tumor surgery.

Does Patient Blood Management Affect Outcomes in Metastatic Spine Tumour Surgery? A Review of Current Concepts.

Narrative review. The spine is the most common site of metastases, associated with decreased quality of life. Increase in metastatic spine tumour surgery (MSTS) has caused us to focus on the management of blood, as blood loss is a significant morbidity in these patients. However, blood transfusion is also not without its own risks, and hence this led to blood conservation strategies and implementation of a concept of patient blood management (PBM) in clinical practise focusing on these patients. A narrative review was conducted and all studies that were related to blood management in metastatic spine disease as well as PBM surrounding this condition were included. A total of 64 studies were included in this review. We discussed a new concept of patient blood management in patients undergoing MSTS, with stratification to pre-operative and intra-operative factors, as well as anaesthesia and surgical considerations. The studies show that PBM and reduction in blood transfusion allows for reduced readmission rates, lower risks associated with blood transfusion, and lower morbidity for patients undergoing MSTS. Through this review, we highlight various pre-operative and intra-operative methods in the surgical and anaesthesia domains that can help with PBM. It is an important concept with the significant amount of blood loss expected from MSTS. Not applicable.

Separation surgery for metastatic spine tumors: How less became more.

Metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) is an increasingly common clinical entity in cancer patients and is associated with significant morbidity and neurologic sequalae. Management of MESCC has undergone many significant paradigms shifts over the past 50 years and was at times managed exclusively with either surgery or radiation. Historically, aggressive surgical techniques to achieve en bloc or intralesional gross tumor resections were pursued but were associated with significant morbidity and poor tumor control rates when combined with conventional external beam radiation. However, improvements in radiation treatment delivery in the form of stereotactic body radiation therapy have allowed for the safe delivery of high-dose conformal photon beam radiation providing histology-independent ablative responses. This shifted the goals of surgery away from maximal tumor resection toward simple spinal cord decompression with reconstitution of the thecal to create a tumor target volume capable of being irradiated within the constraints of spinal cord tolerance. This new approach of creating space between the thecal sac and the tumor was termed separation surgery and when combined with postoperative SBRT, it is referred to as hybrid therapy. Herein, we will describe the evolution of the management of MESCC, the technique of separation surgery and its outcomes, and finish with an illustrative case example.

External Validation of an Online Wound Infection and Wound Reoperation Risk Calculator After Metastatic Spinal Tumor Surgery

Study DesignThis was a single-institution retrospective cohort study. ObjectiveWound infections are common following spine metastasis surgery and can result in unplanned reoperations. A recent study published an online wound complication risk calculator but has not yet undergone external validation. Our aim was to evaluate the accuracy of this risk calculator in predicting 30-day wound infections and 30-day wound reoperations using our operative spine metastasis population. MethodsAn internal operative database was used to identify patients between 2012 and 2022. The primary outcomes were 1) any surgical site infection and 2) wound-related revision surgery within 30 days following surgery. Patient details were manually collected from electronic medical records and entered into the calculator to determine predicted complication risk percentages. Predicted risks were compared to observed outcomes using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves with areas under the curve (AUC). ResultsA total of 153 patients were included. The observed 30-day postoperative wound infection incidence was 5% while the predicted wound infection incidence was 6%. In ROC analysis, good discrimination was found for the wound infection model (AUC=0.737; p=0.024). The observed wound reoperation rate was 5% and the predicted wound reoperation rate was 6%. ROC analysis demonstrated poor discrimination for wound reoperations (AUC=0.559; p=0.597). ConclusionsThe online wound-related risk calculator was found to accurately predict wound infections but not wound reoperations within our metastatic spine surgery cohort. We suggest that the model may be clinically useful despite underlying population differences, but further work must be done to generate and validate accurate prediction tools.

Implant and construct decision-making in metastatic spine tumour surgery: a review of current concepts with a decision-making algorithm.

Narrative Review. Metastatic spine tumour surgery (MSTS) is an important treatment modality of metastatic spinal disease (MSD). Increase in MSTS has been due to improvements in our oncological treatment, as patients have increased longevity and even those with poorer comorbidities are now being considered for surgery. However, there is currently no guideline on how MSTS surgeons should select the appropriate levels to instrument, and which type of implants should be utilised. The current literature onMSTS was reviewedto studyimplant and constructdecision making factors, with a view to writethis narrative review.All studies that were related to instrumentation in MSTS were included. A total of 58studies were included in this review. We discuss noveldecision-making models that should be taken into account when planning for surgery in patients undergoing MSTS. These factors include the quality of bone for instrumentation, the extent of the construct required for MSTS patients, the use of cement augmentation and the choice of implant. Various studies have advocated for the use of these modalities and demonstrated better outcomes in MSTS patients when used appropriately. We have established a new instrumentationalgorithm that should be taken into consideration for patients undergoing MSTS. It serves as an important guide for surgeons treating MSTS, with the continuous evolvement of our treatment capacity in MSD.

Characteristics of Poor Recordability of Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring during Metastatic Spinal Tumor Surgery: A Multicenter Study

Characteristics of Poor Recordability of Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring during Metastatic Spinal Tumor Surgery: A Multicenter Study

Association between intratumoral flow void and intraoperative blood loss in metastatic spinal tumor surgery

Association between intratumoral flow void and intraoperative blood loss in metastatic spinal tumor surgery

Does intraoperative cell-salvaged autologous blood transfusion in metastatic spine tumour surgery improve long-term clinical outcomes? A prospective clinical study

Does intraoperative cell-salvaged autologous blood transfusion in metastatic spine tumour surgery improve long-term clinical outcomes? A prospective clinical study

An evaluation of prognostic scoring systems for survival in a surgically treated cohort of 318 metastatic spine tumour surgery patients

An evaluation of prognostic scoring systems for survival in a surgically treated cohort of 318 metastatic spine tumour surgery patients