Effect of pedicle fixation combined with (125)I seed implantation for metastatic thoracolumbar tumors

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of pedicle fixation combined with (125)I brachytherapy in treating metastatic thoracolumbar tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of seven metastatic thoracolumbar tumor patients who received pedicle fixation combined with radioactive (125)I seed implantation brachytherapy in our department between January 2009 and December 2013 was performed. The visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score before the operation and 1, 6, and 12 months after the operation were observed and recorded. The changes in the scores at each time point were compared. RESULTS: All the patients underwent a successful operation, without any complications during their hospitalization. All the patients received postoperative follow-up, and the duration of follow-up was 15–50 months, with an average of 32.2 months. One pancreatic cancer patient died of liver failure and hypoproteinemia 28 months post surgery. The VAS scores of patients before the operation and 1, 6, and 12 months after the operation were 7.43±0.98, 2.71±0.49, 3.00±0.82, and 4.29±0.98, respectively; the KPS scores were 52.9±9.5, 84.3±5.3, 75.7±5.3, and 72.9±4.9, respectively. These results suggest that the VAS score at each time point was significantly decreased compared with that before the operation, while the KPS score was significantly increased compared with that before the operation. Both differences had statistical significance (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: As a therapy for advanced malignant tumors with thoracolumbar metastasis, pedicle fixation combined with (125)I brachytherapy can effectively relieve short-term pain and improve patient’s quality of life.