Surgical Treatment Of Tumors Of The Sacrum

Object To study clinical and functional outcomes resulting from thesurgical treatment for tumors of the sacrum.Method Thirty-seven patients were treated for tumors of the sacrumduring 1982～2004 in the Department of Orthopedics in Fujian ProvincialHospital. There were 21 men and 16 women, aged 18～79 years, average of 45years. Pathological diagnosis of the tumors included 12 benign tumors, 10malignant tumors and 15 intermediate tumors. Out of the patients,there were 11chordomas, 6 neurofibromas and 4 giant cell tumors .Thirty-three patients weresurgically treated for tumors of the sacrum. After tumor curettage or excision , 6cases were reconstructed by interalfixation. Ligation of both internal iliac arteriesand a temporary block of the common iliac arteries or aorta minimizedbleeding.Injury to veins must be carefully avoided.Result The patients were followed from 3 mouths to 14 years after surgery.The postoperative wound infection and delayed wound healing 21.2%,and theimmediate success rate 100%.2 of the patients with benign tumor had the localrecurrence and were diagnosed to malignant tumors in the later surgery. Thepatients'survival period of them ranged from 1 year and 10 months to 6 years. 2and 3 years survival rate were 90.6% and 87.5%.29 of them achievedsatisfactory walking function and good sphincter muscle function of bladder andbowl after surgery.Conclusions Early diagnosis and promptly complete resection of tumoris the most effective way to manage sacral tumors. Preoperative embolization forsacral tumor can can decrease the blood loss and complication.Sacral nerveshould be preserved as possible.Sacral reconstruction apeared helpful after totalsacral resectionin . postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy can reduce the tumorrecurrence rate .