Partial Vertebrectomies without Instrumented Stabilization During En Bloc Resection of Primary Bronchogenic Carcinomas Invading the Spine: Feasibility Study and Results on Spine Balance

OBJECTIVE: It is unknown whether spinal instrumentation is required to prevent deformity after partial vertebrectomy in the treatment of primary bronchogenic carcinomas invading the spine (PBCIS). In this study, we focus on the postoperative spine deformity in patients who underwent operation for partial vertebrectomies without instrumentation during en bloc PBCIS resection. Our objective was to determine whether deformity depends on the type of vertebral resection and if any vertebral resection threshold can be observed to justify additional spinal instrumentation. METHODS: This is a retrospective study, including all patients with PBCIS operated without spinal instrumentation from 2009 to 2018. Partial vertebrectomies were classified into categories A, B, and C depending on vertebral resection. Patients had long-term radiologic follow-up to assess the spine deformity evolution. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were included. The median follow-up was 27 months. Four patients underwent a secondary posterior instrumentation surgical procedure due to progressive spinal deformity. A low-risk group of deformation was characterized as type A resection and type B resection on less than 3 vertebrae. CONCLUSIONS: There are no validated criteria to justify a systematic spinal instrumentation when performing a partial vertebrectomy during en bloc resection of PBCIS. Performed alone without spine instrumentation, both type A and type B resections on less than 3 resected vertebrae were not subject to sagittal and coronal deformity even after a long follow-up, emphasizing that a systematic stabilization is not needed in this low-risk group. These results could help to reduce the perioperative morbidity of these procedures that are usually long and complex.