Outcomes After Definitive Surgery for Spinal and Sacral Chordoma in 101 Patients Over 20 Years

Neurosurgery 96:494–504, 2025

Study Objective: Investigate postoperative outcomes of spinal chordoma surgery over 20 years.

Patient Cohort: 101 patients, average follow-up of 6.0 ± 4.2 years.

Recurrence and Mortality: 24.8% recurrence, 9.9% mortality.

Risk Factors: Tumors ≥100 cm³ and mobile spine chordomas linked to worse outcomes.

Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy: Associated with improved local recurrence-free survival (LRFS).

Age Impact: Patients ≥65 years at surgery have a higher mortality risk.

Surgical Outcomes: Pain decreased post-surgery, sensory deficits and weakness remained static.

Functional Outcomes: 39% of patients pain-free long-term, no significant change in sensory deficits.

Surgical Complications: 65.3% experienced complications; 32.7% required reoperation.

Radiotherapy Advances: Newer modalities like stereotactic photon therapy show promising LRFS rates.

Study Design: Retrospective review from 2003-2023 at a quaternary spinal oncology center.

Data Analysis: Multivariable Cox regression used to identify predictors of LRFS and OS.

Surgical Approach: Enneking Appropriate surgery preferred for better outcomes.