Abstract
Two cases of dumbbell tumors occurring at the lumbar spine (both cases were Eden type II) were removed by a posterior approach without facetectomy. No fusions were performed in order to maintain flexibility of the lumbar spine. In both cases, we, performed partial laminectomy and resection of the pars interarticularis.Then the dura and epineurium were incised longitudinally just above the tumor. The tumors were dissected from the nerve, and were removed. After tumor removal, the dura mater was secured and closed. A small bone block from the spinous process was placed at the pars interarticularis with surgical wire. In both cases, tumors sizes complied with the following criteria ; 1) heights were within the size of inter transverse process distance ; 2) lateral margins were not over the tip of transverse process ; 3) and tumors did not extend over the psoas muscle. We concluded that the dumbbell tumor at the lumber spine could be removed by posterior approach without facetectomy if these conditions were satisfied.
