Abstract
We have excised spinal cord tumors located in anterior or antero-lateral aspect of spinal cord or intraforaminal segment by pediculotomy in 5 cases. The tumors types were schwannoma (3 cases), meningioma (1 case), and meningial cyst (1 case). The tumors were at the T11/12 (2 cases), and the T6, T7/8 and T8/9 (1 case each) levels.
Pediculotomy provides a wider operative field than traditional posterior approaches such as wide laminectomy, laminoplasty or laminotomy and enables to extract spinal cord tumor safely. Traditional posterior approaches risk loss of neural function of the spinal cord, and damage to the spinal column during tumor resection, because it is necessary to exclude the spinal cord forcibly to the lateral side, and to sacrifice the facet joint. In contrast, pediculotomy enables an approach to tumors located in the anterior aspect without excluding the spinal cord, and without damaging facet joints. In all five of our cases neurological symptoms improved after surgery, and bone union was completed. Although pediculotomy has some disadvantages in slightly complicated surgical techniques and external fixation, it has important advantages for safely in approaching tumors located in the anterior or antero-lateral aspect of the spinal cord.
