Spinal Cord Lipoma — Surgical Resection: treatment in the Best Hospitals of Germany
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![Hospital Neuwerk Moenchengladbach](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/600043ba1f0fa.jpg)
Department of Spinal Surgery
The Department of Spinal Surgery annually treats more than 850 patients with spinal cord lipomas. The specialists remove the tumor endoscopically, with microsurgical techniques. The surgery involves the use of O-Arm system, which protects the spinal cord and minimizes the risk of neurological complications. The department is headed by Dr. med. A Bitter, who specializes in microsurgical spinal interventions.
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![Zertifizierte Schmerzklinik IGOST certificate](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/certificates/s_45759138.png)
![Vivantes Auguste-Viktoria Hospital Berlin](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/5ffc61fee3cfe.jpg)
Department of Spinal Surgery
The Department of Spinal Surgery at the Vivantes Auguste-Victoria Hospital all diseases of the spine - both conservatively and operatively. Patients with herniated intervertebral discs, displacement of vertebrae, stenosis of the spinal canal or back pain are treated here. In addition, specialists of the department have a unique experience in the field of complex reconstructive and revision surgeries, which are conducted to continue or correct the previous surgical treatment.
![Mario Cabraja](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/departments/6006f53d7ab4c.png)
![Catholic Clinic Koblenz-Montabaur](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/5ff8560cc2999.jpg)
Department of Spinal Surgery
The Department of Spinal Surgery offers the full range of effective treatment methods in the area of its specialization. A highly qualified team of doctors is at the service of the department's patients, who have in their arsenal advanced conservative and surgical treatment methods for pathological changes in the spine. Spinal surgical procedures are performed in modern operating rooms, the technical equipment of which allows spinal surgeons to perfectly perform both major open surgery and sparing interventions: minimally invasive, endoscopic, and microsurgical. Surgical treatment is complemented by a carefully planned course of physiotherapy. This includes procedures such as therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, massage, osteopathic treatment, etc. The department's team of doctors consists of 10 highly qualified specialists who, together with experienced nursing staff, admit more than 1,300 inpatients annually. The medical facility is certified by the German Society for Spine Surgery (DWG) as a level II specialized center. The department's medical team makes every effort to provide each patient with optimal treatment in a pleasant and friendly atmosphere.
![Francis Kilian](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/departments/5ff858995c726.png)
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![Charite University Hospital Berlin](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/60018c63b444d.jpg)
Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery offers the full range of accurate diagnostics and surgical treatment of diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. The department's surgeons annually perform over 5,000 surgical interventions, which indicates their high professionalism and tremendous experience. The key attention is paid to the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases, diseases of the spine and spinal cord, brain and skull base tumors, peripheral nerve lesions, cerebrospinal fluid circulation disorders, as well as pain therapy (functional neurosurgery). The treatment of neurosurgical diseases in children and adolescents is carried out by a specially trained team of experts.
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![Beta Clinic Bonn](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/5ffc3b35bc66c.jpg)
Department of Neurosurgery and Spinal Surgery
The Department of Neurosurgery and Spinal Surgery offers the full range of modern surgical procedures for patients with diseases of the brain, spinal cord, spine, and peripheral nervous system. The department has state-of-the-art equipment, including navigation systems, monitoring devices, surgical microscopes, intraoperative X-ray diagnostic systems, angiography systems, and laser equipment. In addition, a system for minimally invasive stereotactic interventions has been installed in the department's operating room. The department's neurosurgeons use the latest microsurgical and endoscopic techniques in their work. The medical facility is one of only three in Europe to successfully use the VISUALASE™ device for MRI-guided laser ablation to treat epilepsy. This minimally invasive procedure is highly effective and represents a real breakthrough in epilepsy surgery. The department's neurosurgeons always strive to provide the patient with optimal medical care. They talk in detail about each stage of treatment and are happy to answer the patient's questions. Neurologists and specialists in the field of neuroradiology are often involved in the therapeutic process, which guarantees a comprehensive approach to treatment.
![Thomas Gasser](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/departments/642d56aebb704.png)
![University Hospital Freiburg](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/5ffc2aec07fe6.jpg)
Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery offers the full range of surgical treatment of diseases of the brain, spine, spinal cord and nerves in adults and children. The department keeps pace with new trends in medicine, as well as contributes significantly to their development. Therefore, the most modern diagnostic and therapeutic methods are available here. An individual approach to each clinical case is crucial to ensure optimal treatment results with the preservation of all neurological functions.
![Jürgen Beck](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/departments/5ffeabe00da93.png)
![University Hospital Frankfurt am Main](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/60018b76e5d59.jpg)
Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery ranks among the top German medical facilities specializing in the surgical treatment of brain tumors! The department offers the full range of diagnostics and surgical treatment of diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. A specially trained team of pediatric neurosurgeons provides treatment for various neurosurgical pathologies in children. During the treatment, the doctors use state-of-the-art equipment, in particular, imaging-guided neuronavigation, functional imaging (fMRI), intraoperative mapping, intraoperative videoangiography, etc.
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![University Hospital Erlangen](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/6000307acc78a.jpg)
Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery, Spinal Surgery
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery, Spinal Surgery offers modern diagnostics and effective treatment of the full range of diseases, injuries, inflammatory processes, tumors and malformations of the brain, spinal cord and their meninges, as well as spinal diseases. Spinal surgery is performed in collaboration with doctors from the Department of Adult and Pediatric Traumatology, Orthopedic Surgery. The department admits adults and children with malformations of the nervous system, brain and spinal cord tumors, drug-resistant epilepsy and other diseases. As one of the largest medical facilities of this kind in Germany, the department's doctors annually perform more than 2,500 surgical interventions on the brain and spinal cord, peripheral nerve endings. The department's specialists also perform over 400 spinal surgical procedures annually. To achieve high success rates of the surgical treatment, doctors use the very latest equipment, including neuronavigation systems. Thanks to this, surgeons not only successfully eliminate the pathology, but also guarantee the patient maximum safety. The department has 78 beds, including 14 beds in the Intensive Care Unit. The priority goal of the department's medical team is to provide high-quality treatment focused on the patient's needs.
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![University Hospital Ulm](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/5ff71ab6e4686.jpg)
Department of Neurosurgery and Spinal Surgery
The Department of Neurosurgery and Spinal Surgery provides top-class medical care for patients with diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The medical facility performs surgery of any complexity on the brain, spinal cord, spine, and peripheral nerves. The department is the largest healthcare facility of this kind in Germany and has a team of highly professional neurosurgeons with long clinical experience. The department's specialists focus on patients with brain tumors (gliomas, meningiomas, and brain metastases), neurovascular diseases (aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and dural arteriovenous fistulas), and traumatic brain injuries. Spinal surgeons operate on patients with herniated discs, spinal canal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, spondylodiscitis, spinal fractures, and spinal tumors. The department extensively uses minimally invasive surgical techniques that allow for good therapeutic results with high safety in surgical manipulations. The medical facility has two hybrid operating rooms with state-of-the-art equipment, including the Zeego® intraoperative robotic angiography system and the intraoperative Brainsuite® MRI.
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![University Hospital Würzburg](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/5ff71d14a2f75.jpg)
Department of Adult and Pediatric Orthopedics
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Orthopedics is the center of maximum orthopedic care and offers the diagnostics and treatment of all diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. Along with the full range of modern operative and conservative orthopedics, the department specializes in hip and knee replacement surgery using the minimally invasive methods, replacement/revision of prostheses, orthopaedic oncology, foot surgery and patella problems in the patella.
![Maximilian Rudert](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/departments/600997a2aed27.png)
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![University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/6009356eb0bfe.jpg)
Department of Adult and Pediatric Orthopedics, Trauma Surgery, Foot Surgery
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Orthopedics, Trauma Surgery, Foot Surgery offers the full range of diagnostics, conservative and surgical treatment of musculoskeletal diseases and injuries. The department is a certified Endoprosthetics Center – more than 1,000 primary joint replacement surgeries are performed here annually. The surgeons of the Endoprosthetics Center also specialize in particularly complex clinical cases and revision procedures for the replacement of previously implanted artificial joints. In addition, the department has the status of the interregional Trauma Center certified in accordance with the standards of the German Trauma Society. The department has also been awarded a Certificate of Excellence from the German Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (DAF) in the field of foot surgery. A separate area of clinical activity is the treatment of diseases, injuries and congenital malformations of the musculoskeletal system in children. Depending on the severity of the clinical case, both conservative and surgical techniques are used in the treatment of orthopedic pathologies in children. The department's medical team prefers sparing low-traumatic surgery, while open operations are performed only if other therapeutic options are ineffective.
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![Focus Top nationales Krankenhaus 2021 certificate](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/certificates/s_93e3e653.jpg)
![University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/600042302dbdb.jpg)
Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery offers the diagnostics and comprehensive treatment of neurosurgical pathologies, including tumors of the central and peripheral nervous system. The department is the leading Center of Neurosurgery in Northern Germany and is responsible for the implementation of new algorithms for the treatment of patients with brain tumors. To this end, there is an active participation in the international researches and the development of new surgical methods, for example, operations in the waking state. Close interdisciplinary cooperation also contributes to the achievement of optimal treatment results.
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![University Hospital Muenster](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/600046905cf2b.jpg)
Department of General Orthopedics and Orthopedic Oncology
The Department of General Orthopedics and Orthopedic Oncology offers the full range of conservative and surgical treatment of all musculoskeletal diseases. The department ranks among the largest medical facilities of this kind in Germany, as well as among the specialized authoritative departments for the treatment of bone and soft tissue tumors in the European medical arena. The treatment is carried out both on an outpatient and inpatient basis, including the outpatient operations. In addition to its successful clinical activities, the department is proud of its productive research work, which has given birth to many innovations in orthopedics, for example, the department's specialists have patented the very latest prosthetic systems, particularly in the field of orthopedic oncology.
![Georg Gosheger](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/departments/600a85e31030a.png)
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![University Hospital Jena](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/5ff71956a61c8.jpg)
Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery offers the full range of modern services in this medical field. The high level of technical equipment in the department allows for the performance of all highly specialized surgical interventions to treat pathologies of the central and peripheral nervous system. The clinical practice mainly focuses on the diagnostics and surgical treatment of diseases, injuries of the brain, spine, spinal cord, intervertebral discs, nerve plexuses, functional neurosurgery and the treatment of neurosurgical pathologies in children.
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![University Hospital Marburg UKGM](https://static.bookinghealth.com/uploads/clinics/600566196a6be.jpg)
Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery offers all modern surgical interventions for the treatment of pathologies of the nervous system. The clinical focuses include the treatment of oncological diseases of the nervous system (neuro-oncology), skull base surgery, vascular neurosurgery, spinal surgery and functional neurosurgery, including the surgical treatment of epilepsy. As a state-of-the-art medical facility, the department has the advanced systems for deep brain stimulation, multimodal neuronavigation devices, intraoperative neuronavigation using CT, ultrasound systems, fluorescence imaging devices and endoscopy equipment. Thus, the department has all the possibilities to ensure effective treatment according to the international standards.
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Department of Orthopedics, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery
The Department of Orthopedics, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery offers the full range of modern diagnostic examinations, conservative and surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system. The competence also includes round-the-clock medical care for patients with severe and multiple injuries. The department operates a certified Endoprosthetics Center, within which the patients undergo knee, hip and shoulder replacement surgeries. All the department's doctors have excellent qualifications and they are recognized experts in their field of competence, which guarantees the highest quality of medical service.
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A lipoma is a spinal tumor that forms as a result of impaired embryonic development. This is an uncommon neoplasm that consists of adipose tissue and a fibrous framework. The tumor has a soft and elastic consistency and grows very slowly, so symptoms manifest themselves only after a few years. The disease is treated with surgery. You can undergo your treatment in Germany, where it will be safe and ensure reliable long-term results. You are welcome to visit the Booking Health website to find out the cost of treatment in Germany and choose a medical care program at the best price.
Content
- What is a spinal cord lipoma?
- How is spinal cord lipoma surgery performed?
- Results of surgical treatment of spinal cord lipomas
- Benefits of surgical treatment of spinal cord lipomas in Germany
What is a spinal cord lipoma?
A lipoma is a neoplasm consisting of adipose tissue. This neoplasm develops in the spinal cord very rarely. The cause of the formation of lipomas in the central nervous system is the displacement of precursor adipose cells into the primary neural tube during embryonic development. Since the disease is congenital, children are predominantly affected.
Lipomas are often combined with anomalies in the spinal column structure, which also require treatment.
The main symptoms are the following:
- spinal curvature, namely scoliosis;
- spinal nerve root compression, resulting in pain, numbness of the innervated areas, and paresis (severe weakness) of the lower extremities;
- pelvic floor dysfunction, including urinary incontinence.
Lipomas are classified as intramedullary (located inside the spinal cord) and extramedullary (located in the area of the meninges). They mainly form on the posterior surface of the spinal cord and are most often localized in the lumbosacral region.
Lipoma symptoms usually progress slowly, and, at the time of treatment, most tumors are 3 to 5 cm in size.
An MRI scan is considered the best method for diagnosing the disease. The tumor gives exactly the same signal as the subcutaneous adipose tissue. With an MRI scan, doctors can determine the location of the tumor, its size and shape, and also optimally plan treatment.
Since spinal cord lipomas are often part of a complex of congenital anomalies, patients additionally have MRI scans of the brain, craniovertebral junction, and cervical level of the spinal cord. Vertebral anomalies, a dermal sinus (a fistula between the skin and spinal cord), and diastematomyelia (separation of the spinal cord by a septum) are frequent findings.
How is spinal cord lipoma surgery performed?
Whether a child needs treatment depends on the size of the lipoma, its growth rate, and the presence of symptoms. If symptoms are present, treatment is always required. If the lipoma is asymptomatic and has a minimal size at the time of detection, treatment can be postponed using only dynamic monitoring. Every year, a child is examined for any neurological disorders and the pace of tumor growth. Rapid growth may be a reason for a decision about the need for surgical treatment, including before the onset of symptoms.
The main treatment for lipomas is a microsurgical resection. When performing the operation, a doctor pursues the following goals:
- as complete as possible and, ideally, total lipoma removal;
- preservation of normal spinal cord tissue to avoid any neurological deficits;
- restoration of normal spinal cord anatomy.
A standard surgical procedure is performed using an open approach. Doctors perform a laminectomy (removal of the vertebral arches), after which they excise lipomas. The liquid part of the tumor can be destroyed by ultrasound and sucked off with an aspirator. The fibrous framework of the tumor is removed with scissors or a bipolar coagulator. Doctors at some hospitals can evaporate the lipoma with a laser.
Lipoma removal surgery is followed by the elimination of the spinal cord fixation: they restore the normal anatomical structure, form the subarachnoid space, and perform dura mater plastic surgery, restoring the muscular fascial frame. The wound will then be sutured in layers.
German doctors use neurophysiological monitoring during surgery, which makes it safer as doctors can determine which areas of the spinal cord are functionally important and not damage them during the operation.
Results of surgical treatment of spinal cord lipomas
Lipoma removal can be total, subtotal, or partial.
The neoplasm is delimited from the normal tissue of the spinal cord, so doctors can usually perform a total or subtotal resection. If a lipoma cannot be removed completely, the objective is to resect more than 95% of the tumor. If the volume of the tumor is less than 1 cubic centimeter, the risk of recurrent tumor growth that may cause symptoms is small.
Doctors in Germany usually manage to completely remove the tumor, ensuring that it does not recur in the future.
The most undesirable option is a partial resection. In this case, the tumor will grow larger again, and half of the patients will have symptoms again within 10 years.
About 60% of patients do not have any symptoms after surgery. In another 35%, they are significantly relieved within a year after the operation. In 5% of cases, all neurological symptoms still remain. The chances of their disappearance are higher in those patients in whom the manifestations of the disease have developed recently. The long-term persistence of symptoms reduces the likelihood of significant improvement after surgery. However, even for such patients, surgery is beneficial, as neurological disorders will no longer progress after lipoma removal.
Sometimes treatment can be provided before the onset of symptoms. For example, if doctors see a lipoma growing while monitoring a patient. In this case, the best treatment results can be achieved as the symptoms do not manifest themselves at the time of the operation and will never appear in the future after tumor removal.
Benefits of surgical treatment of spinal cord lipomas in Germany
Doctors at German hospitals use state-of-the-art equipment, including powerful surgical microscopes, intraoperative neuromonitoring, and various types of intraoperative imaging (for example, ultrasound scans). Doctors use not only mechanical instruments but also a laser, bipolar coagulation, and ultrasonic destruction and aspiration of the tumor to remove it. These techniques are more sparing and provide less blood loss and minimal damage to healthy spinal cord tissue.
Surgical interventions are performed with minimal bone resection to maintain the stability of the spine. Instead of a laminectomy (removal of the vertebral arches), doctors may perform a laminotomy (removal of only part of the arch). As a result, not only is the volume of bone resection reduced, but muscles and ligaments are better preserved.
There are a few reasons for you to undergo your treatment in Germany. These are the following:
- high-quality preoperative diagnostics that allow for optimal treatment planning;
- German hospitals are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment;
- operations are less traumatic;
- the stability of the spine is maintained;
- safe treatment of patients of any age, including children in their first year of life;
- simultaneous treatment of spinal cord lipomas and other anomalies in the development of the central nervous system can be provided;
- doctors can use a laser, ultrasound, or bipolar coagulation in the process of lipoma removal;
- less blood loss;
- the normal anatomy of the spinal cord is completely restored;
- doctors mostly manage to remove the lipoma completely, not partially;
- a low risk of recurrence;
- intraoperative neuromonitoring is used during surgical treatment to avoid damage to the functionally important spinal cord tissues;
- the cost of treatment in Germany is relatively low as compared to other developed countries.
After your treatment at German hospitals, you can undergo rehabilitation. It will help you recover faster after surgery and get rid of most neurological symptoms. Within a few months, patients can return to their normal lives without any restrictions.
You are welcome to use the Booking Health service to get medical services in Germany at a good price. On our website, you can find the best hospitals in the country and see the cost of treatment in Germany. When you make your treatment appointment through Booking Health, the prices will be lower than when you contact the hospital directly. The cost of treatment in Germany will be reduced due to the lack of taxes for foreign patients.
It is quite easy to select a hospital on our website. Medical centers can be sorted by price, rating, reviews, and the nearest possible appointment date. The Booking Health employees will help you make your choice and arrange your trip.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Sources: