Oncogenic osteomalacia of the cervical spine: a rare case of curative resection and reconstruction

Oncogenic osteomalacia (OO) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome, with only 100 reported cases in the literature. The majority of OO-associated mesenchymal tumors are due to a lesion called phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor, mixed connective tissue (PMTMCT) variant. There have been only 6 reported cases of OO of the spine. With this paper the authors present a case of OO of the cervical spine in a patient who initially presented with multiple pathological fractures of unknown cause, and who eventually underwent staged C-5 spondylectomy followed by circumferential stabilization. Resection of the cervical lesion led to resolution of his hypophosphatemia and prevention of any further pathological fractures. The authors describe a rare cervical neoplasm, its treatment, and review the literature on this rare bony pathological entity.

Surgery insight: current management of epidural spinal cord compression from metastatic spine disease

Metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) is becoming a more common clinically encountered entity as advancing systemic antineoplastic treatment modalities improve survival in cancer patients. Although treatment of MESCC remains a palliative endeavor, emerging surgical techniques, in combination with imaging modalities that detect spinal metastatic disease at an early stage, are resulting in improved outcomes. Here, we review the clinical presentation, diagnostic work-up and management options in the management of MESCC. A treatment paradigm is outlined with emphasis on early circumferential surgical decompression of the spinal cord with concomitant spinal stabilization. Radiation therapy has a clearly defined role in the treatment of patients with MESCC, particularly those with radiation-sensitive tumors in the setting of non-bony spinal cord compression and those with a limited life expectancy. Spinal stereotactic radiosurgery, vertebroplasty, and kyphoplasty, are emerging treatment options that are beginning to be used in selected patients with MESCC.

Spinal pelvic reconstruction after total sacrectomy for en bloc resection of a giant sacral chordoma. Technical note

Although radical resection prolongs the disease-free survival period, surgical management of primary sacral tumors is challenging because of their location and often large size. Moreover, in cases of lesions for which a radical resection necessitates total sacrectomy, reconstruction is required. The authors have previously described a modified Galveston technique in which a liaison between the spine and pelvis is achieved using lumbar pedicle screws and Galveston rods embedded into the ilia; additionally, a transiliac bar reestablishes the pelvic ring. Although this reconstruction technique achieves stabilization, several biomechanical limitations exist. In the present report the authors present the case of a patient who underwent spinal pelvic reconstruction after a total sacrectomy was performed to remove a giant sacral chordoma. They describe a novel spinal pelvic reconstruction technique that addresses some of the biomechanical limitations.