International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access

Abstract

Surgery of Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors, without using CUSA and IOM?

Rabah Kouadria

Background: Intramedullary spinal cord tumors are rare lesions. In the past the treatment emphasized biopsy and radiation/chemotherapy. Nowadays, due to the improvement of the tools of microsurgery and intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IOM), radical surgery excision became the primary modality of treatment. Objective: Report our experience of microsurgical resection of intra medullary spinal cord tumors without using CUSA and IOM. Method: Forty one patients were diagnosed with primary intramedullary tumors. Complete microsurgical removal was attempted whenever possible. Both the IOM and the CUSA are not available in our department further both were never used. Results: Neurological outcome remains the same after aggressive microsurgical resection in the patients with moderate preoperative deficits. Conclusion: Despite the rarity of intramedullary spinal cord tumors, they remain important clinical entities which should be diagnosed early and treated conveniently and efficiently thanks to imaging tools and surgical advances.