Objective  To assess the efficacy of percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined with minimally invasive surgery for spinal metastases.

  Methods  From October 2019 to September 2021, fifteen patients with spinal metastases from Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The patients underwent percutaneous pedicle screw internal fixation combined with minimally invasive surgery. The patients also received comprehensive treatments after surgery. They were followed up after treatment, and pain, nerve injury, and functional status were evaluated before and three months after surgery.

  Results  The patients were followed up for 3-23 months. The average and median survival times of the patients were 13.5 and 14.0 months, respectively. The average operation duration was (232.3±17.9) min, amount of intraoperative bleeding was (393.3±64.9) mL, and average amount of vertebral bone cement injection was 3.38 mL. The visual analogue scale(VAS) scores were 7.67±0.25 and 2.73±0.15 before and three months after surgery, respectively. Pain was significantly relieved after surgery (P<0.01); the Frankel grade increased by one grade in 14 patients. One patient had Frankel grade D before surgery, and there was no change in the grade after surgery. The Karnofsky performance scale score significantly improved before and 3 months after surgery (P<0.01).

  Conclusions  Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined with short incision can effectively alleviate symptoms of spinal cord compression, reduce pain, and improve patients’ quality of life.