Surgical technique: Posterior retropleural thoracotomy for resection of a T10 dumbbell schwannoma.

Background: Myelopathy and nerve root dysfunction resulting from the imperceptible growth of intraspinal schwannomas have been well documented.[1] Thoracic spine schwannomas, in particular, have exceptional growth potential due to the presence of the posterior mediastinum and retropleural spaces accommodating insidious and often subclinical tumor expansion.[5] Extraspinal extension of these lesions, however, poses a distinct challenge for surgeons.[3,4]. Case Description: Here, we provide a two-dimensional intraoperative video demonstrating the technical nuances concerning maximally safe resection of a partially cystic thoracic dumbbell schwannoma having extraspinal extension with associated bony remodeling of the T10 vertebral body and neural foramen in a middle-aged male. A posterolateral approach with T8-T12 fusion, retropleural thoracotomy, facetectomies, and pediculectomies allowed for gross total resection. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed, and the parietal pleura was kept intact throughout the surgery. In addition, the patient continued to have improved symptoms and was ambulatory at 6-month follow-up. Conclusion: Gross total resection of a partially cystic thoracic dumbbell schwannoma was achieved without complications. Our use of a preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction for surgical planning,[2] intraoperative ultrasound,[6] and a durable instrumentation construct were essential for a successful outcome. Moreover, great care was taken to avoid violating the tumor-parietal pleura plane, which would have resulted in postoperative respiratory complications.

Radiological and Pulmonary Results of Surgical Treatment of Severe Idiopathic Scoliosis Using Preoperative Halo Gravity Traction Compared with Less Invasive Temporary Internal Distraction in Staged Surgery in Adolescents.

Background: Severe and rigid scoliosis represents a type of spinal deformity characterized by a Cobb angle exceeding 90° and a flexibility of less than 30%. Halo spinal traction remains the established standard for managing severe scoliosis, although alternative approaches such as temporary internal distraction rods and staged surgical correction exist. The primary objective of this investigation was to compare two cohorts of patients treated using these distinct methods to ascertain any divergences in terms of surgical and radiological outcomes, pulmonary function (PF), and quality of life (QoL). Methods: This study encompassed a total of 62 pediatric patients meeting the specified criteria, which included severe idiopathic scoliosis (major Cobb curve >90) and flexibility <30%. Group 1 (G1) underwent surgical intervention involving preoperative Halo gravity traction (HGT) succeeded by posterior spinal fusion (PSF). On the other hand, Group 2 (G2) underwent a two-stage procedure starting with a less invasive temporary internal distraction technique (LITID) prior to PSF. The radiological outcomes, PF, and QoL were documented and assessed over a monitoring period ranging from 2 to 5 years. Results: The average preoperative major curves (MCs) measured 124° and 122° in G1 and G2, respectively (p < 0.426). Initial flexibility, as observed in preoperative bending films, ranged from 18% in G1 to 21% in G2 (p < 0.001). Following the ultimate surgical intervention, the MCs were corrected to 45° and 37.4° in G1 and G2, respectively (p < 0.001). The percentage correction of the MCs was higher in G2 (63% vs. 70% in G1 and G2, respectively), with significant between-group disparities (p < 0.001). The mean preoperative thoracic kyphoses (TKs) were 96.5° in G1 and 92° in G2 (p = 0.782), which were rectified to 45.8° in G1 and 36.2° in G2 (p < 0.001), equating to correction rates of 55% and 60% in the respective groups. Initially, G2 exhibited lower values for the percentage of predicted lung volume (FVC) and predicted FEV1 compared with G1 (49% and 58% vs. 54.5% and 60.8%; N.S.). Nonetheless, both groups demonstrated enhancements in their FVC and FEV1 values over the follow-up period. Conclusions: The surgical management of severe and untreated spinal curvatures in the pediatric and adolescent population can be considered safe, with a tolerable incidence of minor complications. LITID emerges as a method offering improved QoL and pulmonary function, achieving notably substantial average corrections in deformity by 70% in the coronal plane and 60% in the sagittal plane, alongside a mean increase in trunk height of 10.8 cm. Furthermore, a typical reduction of 76% in rib humps and enhancements in respiratory function, as indicated by improvements in 1 s predicted forced expiratory volume (by 25-56%) and forced vital capacity (by 35-65%), were achieved, leading to a clinically and statistically significant enhancement in QoL when evaluated using SRS-22r, without resorting to more radical, high-risk procedures.

Technical nuances for the resection of cervical dumbbell schwannomas.

The majority of spinal nerve sheath tumors are within the intradural/extramedullary compartment. A subset of these tumors develop extraforaminal components that gradually expand into potential spaces. Herein, the authors provide a 2D video demonstrating the technical nuances concerning resection of cervical dumbbell schwannomas with extraspinal extension. Although nerve sheath tumors with large extraforaminal extension are often associated with complications and pose unique challenges to surgeons, circumferential exposure with intradural exploration allows for gross-total resection and nerve root preservation, without need for adjuvant treatments. The use of intraoperative ultrasound, neurophysiological monitoring, Doppler imaging, and meticulous surgical techniques aided to circumvent complications.

No Benefits in Using Magnetically Controlled Growing Rod as Temporary Internal Distraction Device in Staged Surgical Procedure for Management of Severe and Neglected Scoliosis in Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Severe spinal curvatures (SSCs) in children and adolescents have long been treated with preoperative Halo traction, in its various variations. There are also several radical techniques available for the management of neglected SSCs, such as osteotomies; however, these can be risky. Comparing the treatment outcomes when using preoperative Halo Gravity Traction (HGT) against the use of a Magnetically Controlled Growing Rod (MCGR) as a temporary internal distraction (TID) device, we evaluated the differences in surgical and radiological outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 30 patients with SSCs, treated with HGT followed by posterior spinal fusion (PSF; Group 1, n = 18) or treated using a temporary MCGR as a TID followed by PSF (Group 2, n = 12). All patients underwent surgical treatment between 2016 and 2022. The inclusion criteria were SSC > 90°, flexibility < 30%, and the use of preoperative HGT followed by PSF or the two-stage surgical procedure with initial TID rod placement (Stage 1) followed by PSF (Stage 2). The evaluated parameters were as follows: rib hump, trunk height, and radiographic outcomes. All parameters were collected preoperatively, after the initial surgery, after final correction and fusion, and during the final follow-up. RESULTS: In Group 1, we evaluated 18 patients with a mean age of 15.5 years; in Group 2, we evaluated 12 patients with a mean age of 14.2 years. The interval between the staged procedures averaged 32.7 days. The mean preoperative main curves (MC) were 118° and 112° in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively. After definitive surgery, the MC was corrected to 42° and 44° in G1 and G2, respectively. The mean percentage correction of the MC was similar in both groups (65% vs. 61% in G1 and G2, respectively). The mean preoperative thoracic kyphosis was 92.5° in G1 and 98° in G2, corrected to 43.8° in G1 and 38.8° in G2. Trunk height increased by 9 cm on average. CONCLUSIONS: There are no benefits in using a MCGR as a temporary internal distraction device in the management of neglected scoliosis in adolescents. Surgical treatment of severe scoliosis may be safe, with a reduced risk of potential complications, when using preoperative HGT. A specific intraoperative complication when using a MCGR as a temporary internal distraction device was a 50% risk of transient neuromonitoring changes, due to significant force applied to the spine and radical distraction of the spine. We achieved similar clinical, radiographic, and pulmonary function outcomes for both techniques. The use of HGT causes less blood loss with a shorter overall time under anesthesia. Partial correction significantly aids the subsequent operation by facilitating a gradual reduction in the curvature, thereby reducing the difficulty of surgical treatment and the risk of neurological deficits.

Pedicle subtraction metallectomy with complex posterior reconstruction for fixed cervicothoracic kyphosis: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Iatrogenic cervical deformity is a devastating complication that can result from a well-intended operation but a poor understanding of the individual biomechanics of a patient's spine. Patient factors, such as bone fragility, high T1 slope, and undiagnosed myopathies often play a role in perpetuating a deformity despite an otherwise successful surgery. This imbalance can lead to significant morbidity and a decreased quality of life. OBSERVATIONS: A 55-year-old male presented to the authors' clinic with a chin-to-chest deformity and cervical myelopathy. He previously had an anterior C2-T2 fixation and a posterior C1-T6 instrumented fusion. He subsequently developed screw pullout at multiple levels, so the original surgeon removed all of the posterior hardware. The T1 cage (original corpectomy) severely subsided into the body of T2, generating an angular kyphosis that eventually developed a rigid osseous circumferential union at the cervicothoracic junction with severe cord compression. An anterior approach was not feasible; therefore, a 3-column osteotomy/fusion in the upper thoracic spine was planned whereby 1 of the T2 screws would need to be removed from a posterior approach for the reduction to take place. LESSONS: This case highlights the devastating effect of a hardware complication leading to a fixed cervical spine deformity and the complex decision making involved to safely correct the challenging deformity and restore function.

Illustrative resection of mixed intra- and extramedullary thoracic spinal cord capillary hemangioma.

Background: Capillary hemangiomas are typically superficial benign tumors of the cutaneous and mucosal tissues of the face and neck in pediatric patients. In adults, they typically occur in middle-aged males who present with pain, myelopathy, radiculopathy, paresthesias, and bowel/bladder dysfunction. The optimal treatment for intramedullary spinal cord capillary hemangiomas is gross total/en bloc resection. Methods: Here, we present a 63-year-old male with increasing right greater than left lower extremity numbness/ weakness, attributed to a T8-9 mixed intra- and extramedullary capillary hemangioma. Results: One year following complete lesion resection, the patient used an assistive device to ambulate and continued to improve neurologically. Conclusion: We presented a 63-year-old male whose paraparesis was attributed to a T8-9 mixed intra- and extramedullary capillary hemangioma who did well following total en bloc lesion resection. In addition to this case study/technical note, we provide a 2-D intraoperative video detailing the resection technique.

The Child's Age and the Size of the Curvature Do Not Affect the Accuracy of Screw Placement with the Free-Hand Technique in Spinal Deformities in Children and Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The current method of treatment of spinal deformities would be almost impossible without pedicle screws (PS) placement. There are only a few studies evaluating the safety of PS placement and possible complications in children during growth. The present study was carried out to evaluate the safety and accuracy of PS placement in children with spinal deformities at any age using postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans. METHODS: 318 patients (34 males and 284 females) who underwent 6358 PS fixations for pediatric spinal deformities were enrolled in this multi-center study. The patients were divided into three age groups: less than 10 years old, 11-13 years old, and 14-18 years old. These patients underwent postoperative CT scans and were analyzed for pedicle screw malposition (anterior, superior, inferior, medial, and lateral breaches). RESULTS: The breach rate was 5.92% for all pedicles. There were 1.47% lateral and 3.12% medial breaches for all pedicles with tapping canals, and 2.66% lateral and 3.84% medial breaches for all pedicles without a tapping canal for the screw. Of the 6358 screws placed in the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine, 98% of the screws were accurately placed (grade 0, 1, and juxta pedicular). A total of 56 screws (0.88%) breached more than 4 mm (grade 3), and 17 (0.26%) screws were replaced. No new and permanent neurological, vascular, or visceral complications were encountered. CONCLUSIONS: The free-hand technique for pedicle screw placement in the acceptable and safety zone in pedicles and vertebral bodies was 98%. No complications associated with screw insertion in growth were noted. The free-hand technique for pedicle screw placement can be safely used in patients at any age. The screw accuracy does not depend on the child's age nor the size of the deformity curve. Segmental instrumentation with posterior fixation in children with spinal deformities can be performed with a very low complication rate. Navigation of the robot is only an auxiliary tool in the hands of the surgeons, and the result of the work ultimately depends on the surgeons.

Intramedullary Spinal Cord Abscess Management: Case Series, Operative Video, and Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Intramedullary spinal cord abscess (ISCA) is an extremely rare disease, which has had fewer than 250 reported cases since its initial description in 1830. The condition is limited to level V evidence, limiting the ability for surgeons to characterize and treat it. OBJECTIVE: To report the cases of 2 patients with ISCA and their surgical management: a 59-year-old woman who presented with progressive right hemiparesis and a 69-old man who presented with acute gait instability and significant bilateral shoulder pain. In addition, to report findings from a systematic literature review and associated logistic regression analysis. METHODS: A MEDLINE and Embase search was conducted using the keywords "intramedullary," "spinal cord," "abscess," and "tuberculoma" and the results were screened for case reports. A logistic regression model was fit 100 times on data to retrieve predictor odds ratios. RESULTS: Two hundred case reports of ISCA were identified between 1965 and 2022. Logistic regression determined that the only variables of significance were age (P < 0.01) and antibiotics (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of ISCAs has significantly improved over the years. However, ISCAs are still poorly understood. Our recommendations can be used to guide diagnosis and treatment.

Applications of Carbon Fiber Instrumentation in Spinal Oncology: Recent Innovations in Spinal Instrumentation and 2-Dimensional Illustrative Operative Video.

BACKGROUND: The management of spinal oncology necessitates a multimodal approach, with surgical intervention, radiation-based therapy, and postoperative advanced imaging. These systems must work well together to provide optimal patient outcomes. Traditional metallic spinal implants produce image artifacts and lead to radiation dose attenuation, which inhibit both disease monitoring and disease treatment, respectively. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the feasibility of an improved biomaterial implant that provides structural stability, while also allowing for disease monitoring and treatment in spinal oncology patients. METHODS: From February 2021 to September 2021, 3 patients with spinal oncologic deformity requiring resection and posterior spinal stabilization underwent fixation with polyether ether ketone-carbon fiber implants at a single academic institution. RESULTS: Patient ages ranged from 23 to 74 years (mean: 44.7 years). All patients underwent posterior spinal fixation using standard approaches. They each received polyether ether ketone-carbon fiber pedicle screw and rod implants, placed in standard fashion. There were no dural tears, postoperative wound infections, or other complications related to their treatment. Postoperative surveillance revealed gross total resection of the targeted tumor on postoperative radiographic imaging. CONCLUSION: Polyether ether ketone-carbon fiber implants are a safe and effective option for the treatment of thoracolumbar posterior spinal pathology. The utilization of this novel type of instrumentation in posterior spinal approaches may provide benefit to patients with spinal tumors over existing forms of posterior spinal instrumentation.

Surgical Correction of Distal Junctional Kyphosis.

Distal junctional kyphosis (DJK) is defined as the development of a kyphotic angulation over 10 degrees below a fusion construct and has been described as a complication of the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, Scheuermann kyphosis, adult spinal deformity, and cervical deformity. There are some inherent risk factors to DJK: multilevel fusions, damage to the midline soft tissues including interspinous/supraspinous ligaments, T5-T12 thoracic kyphosis, T11-L2 thoracolumbar kyphosis, and increased mismatch between cervical lordosis and T1 slope. A 53-year-old male presented with cervicalgia, inability to sustain horizontal gaze, and kyphosis-enabled forward head posture. He underwent C3-T1 posterior decompression and fusion as treatment for cervical myelopathy 18 months prior. Neurologic examination was normal, with appreciable protrusion of the T1 vertebral spinous process. Surgery was initiated through subperiosteal exposure of C2-T6, followed by removal of previously set instrumentation, placement of new screws, and posterior column osteotomies of selected segments. Final steps involved compression across excised portions, locking pedicle screws, and a multirod insertion after closure of the posterior column osteotomies by compression maneuvers. Correction for DJK encompasses sagittal alignment restoration, a stable construct, and a good biological environment for healing. Failure of DJK realignment can occur if the patient's ligaments deteriorate distal to the construct or fractures develop in vertebral bodies at the lowest instrumented vertebra or lowest instrumented vertebra +1. One year after surgery, the patient's condition improved, evidenced from both patient self-report and a standing posture radiograph.

Mediastinal metastases from a primary immature teratoma of the CNS.

Primary intracranial germ cell tumors are rare, occurring more frequently in children and young adults in midline locations of the brain. Teratomas are an uncommon variant of germ cell neoplasm, although they account for a high proportion of fetal brain tumors. Here, we report a 27-year-old male who presented with a heterogeneously enhancing lesion in the left thalamus, without evidence of systemic disease. Histologic and immunohistochemical analysis were consistent with immature teratoma; next-generation sequencing was negative for targetable molecular alterations. The patient received chemotherapy and radiotherapy post-excision. Following the initial resection, ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement was performed due to left temporal horn entrapment. Nine months later, imaging revealed mediastinal and hilar adenopathy as well as pleural disease, with encasement and compression of pulmonary vasculature, and multiple, bilateral pulmonary nodules. Fine needle aspiration showed malignant cells with an immunohistochemical profile similar to the original tumor, consistent with metastases. Though germ cell tumors are known to spread via cerebrospinal fluid or blood, metastasis outside of the CNS from a primary intracranial germ cell tumor is a rare complication. Spread via ventriculoperitoneal shunt, which may have occurred in the present case, has also rarely been observed.

Operative Technique for Resection of a Ventral Transdural Retro-Odontoid Pannus: A 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

BACKGROUND: Retro-odontoid pseudotumors are rare inflammatory complications of atlantoaxial instability often associated with cervical degenerative disease and rheumatoid arthritis. While propagation of these lesions has been shown to cause spinal cord compression and cervical myelopathy, intradural extension has rarely been reported. METHODS: In this manuscript and 2-dimensional illustrative intraoperative video, we demonstrate cervical decompression, removal of the intradural component, and stabilization with C1-2 instrumentation using a posterior approach. A 71-year-old patient presented with progressive cervical myelopathy. Preoperative imaging demonstrated a large retro-odontoid pannus causing severe spinal cord compression and an associated contrast-enhancing intradural lesion, in the absence of obvious C1-2 instability or fractures on computed tomography scan. C1-2 posterior decompression and fusion were performed with maximally safe intradural pannus resection and ventral dural reconstruction. RESULTS: Postoperatively, the patient experienced significant improvement in myelopathic symptoms. Imaging demonstrated good spinal cord decompression with complete intradural pannus resection and debulking of the extradural component. CONCLUSIONS: Our outcome in this rare complication suggests a posterior approach may be effective in treating similar patients.

Intraspinal pilocytic astrocytomas: An overview and 2-D illustrative resection technique video.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord pilocytic astrocytomas (PAs) are rare and typically occur in pediatric patients. While PAs are often well-circumscribed and amenable to gross total resection, they sometimes harbor infiltrative components that can invade normal cord parenchyma. METHODS: Here, we present a 59-year-old female with a progressive right-sided hemi-sensory loss, right-sided hemiparesis, and gait imbalance. The preoperative T2 magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large loculated cystic tumor that focally compressed the dorsal medulla, while the contrast study revealed a 1.3 cm homogenously enhancing expansile intramedullary mass centered at the C1 level. RESULTS: The patient underwent a C1-2 laminectomy followed by gross total intramedullary tumor resection utilizing intraoperative dorsal column mapping. There were no operative complications. The patient had preserved motor strength and an expected dorsal column dysfunction, which largely resolved over 9 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Here, we provide a broad overview of PAs, in addition to a case study/technical note that includes a 2-D intraoperative video detailing the resection technique.

Cement-Augmented and Dual-Headed Posterior Screw Reconstruction After Corpectomy for Metastatic Tumor Resection.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic spinal tumors have a well-documented deleterious effect on the overall strength of the bony spine. Surgical interventions must address not only removal of the tumor itself, but the integrity of reconstructive hardware constructs as well. METHODS: We present a series of 8 patients with metastatic spine tumors who were successfully treated with tumor resection and reconstruction of residual 3-column defect with cement-augmented fenestrated pedicle screws and dual-rod posterior stabilization. RESULTS: All patients demonstrated resolution of their presenting neurologic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This series supports the use of the aforementioned constructs in conjunction to provide added stability and reduce hardware failure when treating a diversity of spinal tumors.

A transpedicular approach to complex ventrally situated thoracic intradural extramedullary tumors: technique, indications, and multiinstitutional case series.

OBJECTIVE: Ventrally situated thoracic intradural extramedullary tumors are surgically challenging and difficult to access, and they may be complicated by extensive adhesions and calcifications. Selecting an approach for adequate ventral access is key to complete resection and optimization of outcomes. The authors present a case series of patients who underwent resection of ventral thoracic intradural extramedullary tumors and discuss indications and considerations for this technique. Additionally, they describe the use of a posterolateral transpedicular approach for resection of ventral thoracic intradural extramedullary tumors compared with other techniques, and they summarize the literature supporting its application. METHODS: From May 2017 to August 2020, 5 patients with ventral thoracic intradural extramedullary tumors underwent resection at one of the two academic institutions. RESULTS: Patient ages ranged from 47 to 75 (mean 63.4) years. All tumors were diagnosed as meningiomas or schwannomas by histological examination. Three of the 5 patients had evidence of partial or extensive tumor calcification. Four of the 5 patients underwent an initial posterolateral transpedicular approach for resection, with positive radiographic and clinical outcomes from surgery. One patient initially underwent an unsuccessful traditional direct posterior approach and required additional resection 2 years later after interval disease progression. There were no postoperative wound infections, CSF leaks, or other complications related to the transpedicular approach. CONCLUSIONS: Posterolateral transpedicular tumor resection is a safe technique for the treatment of complex ventrally situated thoracic intradural extramedullary tumors compared with the direct posterior approach. Anecdotally, this approach appears to be particularly beneficial in patients with calcified tumors.

Surgical management of symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Vertebral hemangiomas (VHs) are common benign tumors that only rarely become symptomatic. There is a paucity of data regarding their surgical management and outcomes. Here, we reported a case involving an aggressive cervical VH, discussed its surgical management and outcomes, and reviewed the literature. METHODS: We assessed the clinical, radiological, and surgical outcomes for a patient with an aggressive cervical VH. We also performed a systematic review of the literature according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to describe surgical outcomes for symptomatic VH. RESULTS: A total of 154 studies including 535 patients with VH were included in the study. The majority of patients were female (62.8%), the average age was 43 years, and the thoracic spine was most commonly involved (80.6%). Utilizing Odom's criteria, outcomes were excellent in 81.7% (95% CI 73.2-90.2) of cases. For those presenting with myelopathy (P = 0.045) or focal neurological deficits (P = 0.018), outcomes were less likely to be excellent. Preoperative embolization was not associated with excellent outcome (P = 0.328). CONCLUSION: Surgical outcomes for VH are predominantly favorable, but aggressive VHs have the potential to cause significant residual postoperative neurological morbidity.

C2 quad-screws facilitate 4-rod fixation across the cervico-thoracic junction.

BACKGROUND: Cervical spine deformity is a potentially devitalizing problem. Contemporary techniques for repair and reconstruction include fusion using rods of tapered diameter alone, or quadruple-rod constructs in which primary rods are joined to floating accessory rods by connectors. Here, we present how we utilized a quadruple-rod construct to perform five C2 to thoracic spine fusions. METHODS: Our hospital electronic medical record revealed five patients who underwent the four rod C2-thoracic spine fixation. Patients ranged in age from 14-years-old to 78-years-old. The mean operative time was 715.8 min (range 549-987 min), and average estimated blood loss was 878 cc (range 40-1800 cc). RESULTS: None of the five patients sustained any intraoperative complications, and none demonstrated progressive kyphotic deformity over the average follow-up interval of 8 months. CONCLUSION: We successfully treated five patients with degenerative or oncologic cervical pathology requiring fixation across the cervicothoracic junction utilizing a 4-rod C2-cervicothoracic fusion technique.

Two-Level Separation Surgery for Thoracic Epidural Metastatic Disease: An Operative Video Demonstration.

The spinal column is one of the most common regions of cancer metastasis. Spinal metastases typically occur in the vertebral body, and due to direct posterior extension or retropulsed pathological fractures, they often present with signs and symptoms of epidural spinal cord compression. This scenario requires surgical management to relieve compression and stabilize the spine. Separation surgery establishes a corridor to the ventral epidural space via pediculectomy, which allows for circumferential decompression and creation of a tumor-free margin around the thecal sac. Separation surgery is an increasingly popular method for the management of spinal metastases, particularly due to potentially reduced morbidity versus en bloc tumor resection, and its proven effectiveness when combined with spinal radiosurgery. Thus, separation surgery should be considered in patients with high-grade metastatic ventral epidural spinal cord compression. In this video, we present the case of a 61-year-old woman with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma found to have severe spinal cord compression due to pathological vertebral body fractures at T10-T12, and ventral epidural disease at T10 and T12. The patient received T8-L2 posterior instrumented fusion and T10 and T12 separation surgery, with intraoperative cement embolization. We demonstrate the operative steps required to complete this procedure (Video 1).