Spinal cord Tumour resection

The procedure is performed under general anesthesia, where the patient is unconscious during the procedure. First, the neurosurgeon makes an incision in the skin overlying the tumour. The soft tissues and muscles are moved aside to expose the backbone or the spine. The outer layers of the spine, the laminae are removed to access the spinal canal.

Inside the spinal canal, is the dura. Dura is a tube inside which are the spinal cord and nerves, which are bathed in cerebrospinal fluid. The dura is opened to expose the spinal cord and nerves. Using the high magnification and illumination of the operating microscope, applying the microsurgical techniques, the tumour is carefully dissected from the surrounding structures and carefully removed. Once the tumour is removed the dura is sutured or stitched closed. A water-tight closure of the dura is important in order to avoid leakage of the cerebrospinal fluid. The soft tissues overlying the spine are then closed in respective layers and the skin closed last.