How to treat spinal meningioma

  Spinal meningiomas are intradural tumors that originate from arachnoid cells or from the mesenchymal component of the arachnoid and dura mater. 80% or more occur in the thoracic segment, followed by the cervical segment, and rarely in the lumbar segment. It is more common in women.  The main treatment is surgical excision. The posterior median approach is routinely used to excise the tumor by cutting through the vertebral plate of the diseased segment, depending on the specific location of the tumor. If the tumor is located on the dorsal or lateral side of the spinal cord, it is easier to remove the base of the tumor attached to the dura and disconnect the blood supply to the tumor. If the tumor is located anterior to the spinal cord, the spinal dentate ligament can be suspended with non-invasive sutures to rotate and displace the spinal cord, thus increasing the ventral exposure and facilitating surgical resection. In the postoperative period, it is important to closely observe the movement of the extremities, which may be edematous and hematomas after surgery. In case of glioma or other malignant tumors, postoperative radiation therapy should be considered. Postoperative patients should lie on a hard bed, and the bed surface should be dry, soft and flat. To prevent the occurrence of decubitus ulcers, the patient should be turned regularly and in a straight line when turning to prevent spinal cord injury due to spinal instability. Patients with high cervical medulla need to keep their breathing open after surgery. Because patients with somatic nerve palsy and paralysis have no sensation of heat or cold or pain, care should be taken to prevent burns when using hot water bags or hot compresses.  Most spinal meningiomas have a chronic onset. A few spinal meningiomas become malignant, and those that are benign have a good prognosis.