Complications of En Bloc Resections in the Spine

Morbidity of surgical procedures for spine tumors is expected to be worse than for other conditions. This is particularly true for en bloc resections, a technically demanding procedure. En bloc resections can help improve the prognosis of aggressive benign and malignant tumors in the spine, but the related morbidity is high and sometimes fatal. Reoperations have higher risks because of dissection through scar/fibrosis from previous surgeries and possibly from radiation. Careful planning for treatment is mandatory, and if the surgeon is unsure, referral to a specialty center is necessary.