Spine Surgery

We have orthopedic surgeons who specialize in the surgery of spine (spine surgeon) in our San Jose and Oakland facilities. When needed, a patient will be referred to one of these two facilities for surgery or procedure. Common cancers that spread to spine include lung cancer, kidney cancer, melanoma, breast cancer, and others.

The goal in spinal surgery for cancer that has spread to spine is to perform the minimum surgery necessary to provide the patient as rapid a recovery as possible. When the cancer is limited only to one portion of the spinal column, the goal of surgery is to remove the cancer entirely if possible.
In general, spinal tumor procedures include:

Percutaneous spinal tumor surgery involves cement being injected into a fractured vertebra. These procedures are used if neurological symptoms are not present.
If a patient has developed neurological symptoms, an open procedure is often required where an incision is made to remove tumor pressing against the spinal cord and nerves. These open

Surgery for cancer that has spread to spine may be urgent if a patient experiences neurological symptoms, such as numbness, weakness, inability to walk, persistent urinary incontinence or retention, loss of bowel control, loss of sexual function, partial or complete paralysis.

Surgery is also urgent if a patient’s tumor in spine is so large that a spinal fracture has occurred or is imminent.

Spinal surgery for cancer tumors is very complex and the risk of complication is higher than many other surgeries. The most common possible risks include: