Hemilaminectomy for spinal meningioma: A case series of 20 patients with a focus on ventral- and ventrolateral lesions

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of hemilaminectomy in spinal-meningioma surgery, with special attention to ventral lesions. We also describe technical tips to enhance surgical-corridor width. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 20 patients (14 female and 6 male) underwent hemilaminectomy for resection of a spinal meningioma between January 2005 and December 2015. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging defined the tumor location (16 thoracic, 3 cervical, 1 lumbar) and the dural-attachment site (4 ventral, 11 ventrolateral, 3 lateral, 2 posterior). Pre- and postprocedural functional status was evaluated according to McCormick's classification. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring was employed in all patients. RESULTS: The unilateral approach allowed for complete resection (Simpson grade I-II resection) in 18 patients (90%), including tumors with a ventral dural attachment. In most patients (n=13), monosegmental hemilaminectomy was performed, a single patient required hemilaminectomy of 3 levels, while the remaining 6 patients underwent hemilaminectomy of 2 levels. No patients experienced either worsening of neurological status or procedure-related complications. All patients who had preoperative pain reported postoperative improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The goal of surgery for spinal tumors is to achieve gross tumor removal while minimizing morbidity. In our experience, hemilaminectomy is an effective surgical approach, even in patients with ventral- and ventrolateral spinal meningiomas. The procedure offers several advantages in terms of early patient mobilization and rehabilitation, management of postoperative pain, and preservation of spinal stability while achieving positive functional outcomes.