Feasibility and efficacy of spinal microtubular technique for resection of lumbar dumbbell-shaped tumors

ObjectiveMinimally invasive surgical resection of lumbar dumbbell-shaped tumors is rarely reported. We retrospectively collected clinical data of lumbar dumbbell-shaped tumors treated with the spinal microtubular technique to evaluate the feasibility, complications and efficacy of the surgical methods.MethodsFrom September 2013 to August 2021, clinical data of patients with lumbar dumbbell-shaped tumors that underwent paravertebral approach and micro-tubular tumorectomy (PAMT) were collected; neurological function was assessed using the pain visual analog scale (VAS) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score.ResultsA total of 46 patients that underwent PAMT were included in this study. In all patients, total resection of the tumor was performed at one stage (100%). The median follow-up period was 27.5 months (P25, P75: 16.5- 57 months). Symptoms such as pain or lower extremity weakness were significantly relieved in 46 patients. The postoperative VAS score and JOA score were significantly higher compared with preoperative scores (p