Clinical Features and Surgical Outcomes of Osteochondroma of the Spine

INTRODUCTION: Spinal osteochondroma is rare. The purpose of this study is to examine the clinical characteristics and surgical treatment outcomes of 11 patients with spinal osteochondroma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 11 patients with spinal osteochondroma. In these patients, we examined the onset level, onset site, initial symptoms, surgical procedure, outcomes and complications. RESULTS: Of the 11 patients, 9 presented with solitary tumours, and 2 had multiple. The mean post-operative observation period was six years and two months. The onset level was the cervical spine in eight patients, thoracic in two, and lumbar in one. The most common onset site was the posterior elements. The initial presentation was myelopathy in seven patients, radiculopathy in two, neck pain in one and feeling of mass in one. All patients underwent excision of the tumour, and depending on the tumour onset site, additional posterior or anterior decompression with or without fusion was performed. There was no recurrence in all patients. Intra-operative complications included dura tear and oesophageal injury in one patient with cervical onset, while post-operative complications included C5 palsy in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, surgical excision for osteochondroma of the spine were excellent with no recurrence of the tumour.