Which Tumours This Page Covers
Spinal tumour surgery removes or reduces a tumour pressing on the spinal cord or nerves and, where needed, stabilises the spine. This page covers surgery for tumours inside the spinal cord (intramedullary) and tumours of the spinal bones and surrounding space (extradural), including metastases. Benign tumours inside the dura but outside the cord are covered on the IDEM page.
Surgical intervention targets either complete excision or effective decompression depending on the tumour location and pathology. Medically reviewed by Dr Jaydev Panchawagh, MS (General Surgery), MCh (Neurosurgery), Consultant Neurosurgeon, Pune (Last reviewed: [DD Month 2026]). For educational purposes only; individual outcomes vary and this content is not a substitute for personal medical advice.
Ependymoma, astrocytoma, haemangioblastoma.
Metastases, myeloma, and primary bone tumours. See vertebral body tumours.
Meningioma and schwannoma — see spinal IDEM removal.
For an overview of tumour types, symptoms, and non-surgical treatment, see spinal tumours.
Goals of Surgery
Surgical objectives vary based on the specific type and location of the spinal mass:
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Intramedullary tumours: To remove as much of the tumour as can be removed safely, protecting cord function; complete removal is sometimes possible, for example in many ependymomas.
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Metastases: Usually to relieve pressure on the spinal cord, stabilise the spine, and control pain, often followed by radiation ("separation surgery").
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Primary bone tumours: Sometimes removal of the whole tumour in one piece, which needs specialist planning.
For benign tumours, surgery often aims at complete removal; for metastases, it aims to protect the cord, keep the spine stable, and prepare for radiation. The choice should follow the anatomy of your condition, your own circumstances — your health, your work, and what matters to you in recovery — and the advice of your neurosurgeon after examining you and reviewing your scans.
The Procedure
The operation follows a structured microsurgical approach:
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Anaesthesia and monitoring: Under general anaesthesia, with continuous neurophysiological monitoring of the spinal cord.
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Exposure: Usually from the back, removing the laminae over the tumour; some bone tumours need an approach from the front or side.
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Tumour removal: Intramedullary tumours are reached through a small midline opening of the cord under the microscope; extradural tumours are removed from around the dura and bone.
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Reconstruction: Where bone is removed or destroyed, the spine is stabilised with screws, rods, and sometimes a cage. See spinal instrumentation.
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Closure: The dura is closed watertight when opened, followed by the wound.
Risks to Discuss Before Surgery
Potential surgical risks to review with your neurosurgeon before the procedure include:
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New or worse weakness or numbness: Particularly after intramedullary surgery; some changes improve over time.
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Spinal fluid leak: Or wound healing problems, especially after previous radiation.
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Bleeding: Particularly with vascular tumours.
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Instability: Requiring fixation.
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General surgical risks: Infection, blood clots, and the general risks of anaesthesia.
Recovery and Follow-up
Hospital stay depends on the operation and the patient's condition, from several days to longer for complex surgery. Rehabilitation — physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and bladder care — supports recovery. Follow-up MRI checks for any remaining or returning tumour, and radiation or oncology treatment is coordinated when needed.
Questions to Ask Your Neurosurgeon
These are the questions patients and families most often search for before spinal tumour surgery:
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Surgical aim: What is the aim of surgery in my case — complete removal, or decompression and stabilisation?
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Tumour nature: Is the tumour likely to be benign?
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Neuromonitoring: Will spinal cord monitoring be used?
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Stabilisation: Will screws and rods be needed?
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Adjuvant therapy: Will radiation or other treatment follow?
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Cost estimate: What will the total cost be, and what does it include? Ask for a written estimate.
Unless there is an emergency, spine surgery is a planned decision. Seeking a second opinion from a qualified spine surgeon or neurosurgeon before deciding is entirely appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
General information only. Please consult a qualified spine surgeon or neurosurgeon for advice about your situation.
Spinal tumour removal is surgery to remove or reduce a tumour in or around the spinal cord or spinal bones, to relieve pressure on the cord and nerves and, where needed, to stabilise the spine.
Many intramedullary tumours can be removed partly or completely using microsurgery and spinal cord monitoring. Some, such as many ependymomas, have a clear boundary that allows complete removal; others infiltrate the cord and are removed only partly.
Separation surgery removes enough of a metastatic tumour from around the spinal cord to create a safe gap, so that high-dose radiation can then be delivered to the tumour without harming the cord.
Screws and rods are needed when the tumour or its removal weakens the spine, as often happens with tumours of the vertebral bones. Many tumours inside the dura can be removed without fixation.
Recovery depends on the tumour and the operation. Patients often walk within days, with rehabilitation over the following weeks. Follow-up MRI and, where needed, radiation or oncology treatment are part of the plan.
Spinal tumour surgery is performed by neurosurgeons, often working with oncologists and radiation specialists. Dr Jaydev Panchawagh—MBBS (B.J. Medical College, Pune), MS in General Surgery (KEM Hospital, Pune), and MCh in Neurosurgery (Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai)—is a consultant neurosurgeon in Pune (102, Bhagyatara Society, Erandwane, Pune, Maharashtra 411004; Tel: +91-9011333841) with 27 years of neurosurgical practice who performs spinal tumour surgery after individual assessment.
