Spine Tumor Surgery

What the procedure is

Spine tumour surgery removes or debulks a tumour affecting the vertebrae, spinal cord or surrounding tissue, with the surgical goal depending on whether the tumour is primary or has spread from elsewhere (metastatic) and on the patient's overall treatment plan.

Why it is performed

It relieves spinal cord or nerve compression caused by a tumour, stabilises the spine where a tumour has weakened it, and, where appropriate, removes tumour tissue as part of broader oncologic treatment.

Who may benefit

• Patients with a spinal tumour causing neurological compression or spinal instability
• Patients where tumour removal or biopsy is needed to guide diagnosis and further treatment
• Patients with impending or actual spinal fracture due to tumour involvement

When it may not be appropriate

• Cases where non-surgical treatment (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy) is a more appropriate first step, based on tumour type and overall prognosis
• Patients for whom surgical risk outweighs likely benefit, assessed individually with the oncology team

Alternatives

• Radiotherapy
• Chemotherapy or targeted/systemic therapy, depending on tumour type
• Vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty for pain from a stable vertebral lesion without cord compression
• Observation with close monitoring in selected slow-growing lesions

How it is performed

The approach depends on tumour location and type — it may involve decompression of the spinal cord, partial or complete removal of the tumour, and stabilisation with instrumentation where the tumour has compromised structural integrity. This is typically planned jointly with medical and radiation oncology.

Anaesthesia: General anaesthesia  ·  Typical duration: Highly variable — from under 2 hours for a focal decompression to several hours for complex tumour resection with reconstruction  ·  Typical hospital stay: Case-dependent, typically 4–10 nights

Recovery

Recovery depends on the extent of surgery and the patient's overall oncologic treatment plan; physiotherapy and further oncologic treatment are usually coordinated together.

Physiotherapy

An individualised rehabilitation plan, coordinated with the oncology team.

Risks and complications

• Neurological injury
• Bleeding, given tumour vascularity in some cases
• Infection
• Instrumentation failure
• Incomplete tumour removal depending on tumour type and location

Expected follow-up

Close multidisciplinary follow-up with the treating oncology team alongside spine surgery review.

Indicative cost

Indicative cost: ₹4.0 – 8.0 lakh. This is not a quotation — see the full cost page for what's included and excluded.

What affects the cost

• Tumour type, size and location
• Extent of resection and reconstruction needed
• ICU stay and multidisciplinary care requirements

Questions to ask

• Am I a suitable candidate for this specific procedure, or would an alternative be better for my case?
• What is your experience with this procedure?
• What does the quoted cost include and exclude?

Frequently asked questions