Spinal tumors are uncommon and can be either benign or malignant. Spinal tumors can be dangerous when they cause spinal canal compression, which may lead to neurologic dysfunction.
Symptoms of a spinal tumor might include back pain, sciatica, numbness, spinal deformity (such as scoliosis) and fever. The presence of these symptoms certainly doesn’t confirm a tumor is present, but early medical intervention is always a wise choice if symptoms do not resolve on their own.
Treatment Options – Spine Tumor Surgery
Some spinal tumors, benign or malignant, require surgical intervention, which may occur before or after other treatments. Circumstances where surgery may be considered include the inability to manage pain with non-operative treatment, neurologic deficit which continues to advance, the compression of nerves, or when spinal stabilization is needed. The primary goals in surgery are to reduce pain caused by the spinal tumor, restore or preserve neurologic function, and provide spinal stability. Surgery may include partial tumor removal (resection) or complete tumor removal (excision).
A fusion surgery can be done to reconstruct and stabilize the spine. In this procedure, medically designed hardware such as rods, bars, wires and screws are implanted as they support the spine as the bone forms between the spinal vertebra.
Minnesota Spine Tumor Surgeons
The St. Paul spine surgeons at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute are experts at treating complex spine conditions. Complete the ‘Request an Appointment’ section on this page, or contact Midwest Spine & Brain Institute at 1.800.353.7720. We will work with you to determine the best treatment option for your condition. Our team consists of board-certified spine surgeons, pain management specialists, physician assistants, and more. We have locations throughout the Twin Cities metro area and treat patients throughout Minnesota.