Delayed recovery from paraplegia following resections of thoracic meningiomas

BACKGROUND: In this retrospective study, we evaluated the patterns of postoperative recovery for patients who were initially paraplegic before the excision of thoracic spine meningiomas. We also determined how the various prognostic factors impacted outcomes. METHODS: Twenty patients with paraplegia underwent surgical excision of thoracic spine meningiomas at 2016– 2019. Patients’ demographics, clinical, radiological data, operative details, histopathology, and postoperative complications were recorded; patients were reassessed at 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: Fourteen patients improved postoperatively, becoming, ambulatory with/without assistance; only six remained paraplegic. Poor prognostic factors for postoperative motor recovery included larger tumor size, longer duration of preoperative symptoms/paraplegia, and greater severity of sensory loss. CONCLUSION: For 6/20 patients with thoracic meningiomas, poor postoperative recovery of motor function correlated with larger tumor size, longer duration of preoperative symptoms/paraplegia, and more severe sensory loss.