Hartshill spinal fixation in vertebral metastasis

Abstract

Spinal fusion by Hartshill rectangle frame was used in 10 patients with spinal cord compression secondary to vertebral metastasis in the thoracic and lumbar spine, occupying mainly the posterior elements. All patients presented with pain, bone collapse, and neurologic deficit. The procedure is built on a system of sublaminar wires passed under two to three lamina above and below the decompressed area and tightened to a prebent metal frame. This procedure was relatively simple, and the immediate stabilization achieved in our patients was good. All patients experienced immediate pain relief. While only two patients were able to walk before surgery, seven were able to do so at follow-up. During a follow-up period of at least 2 years in two patients, or until death in the other eight patients, one patient had a broken wire that did not affect the correction achieved at surgery. Partial loss of correction in the sagittal plane was found in two patients who had metastasis in the lumbar spine and in another patient who had metastasis in the ninth thoracic vertebra.