INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the intra- and post-surgical complications on tumor affected spines. Complications were analyzed according to selected patient groups so that risk factors could be determined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 1999 and December 2004, 401 patients underwent surgery because of spinal metastases in the Department of Traumatology, General Hospital St. Georg in Hamburg. Data were obtained from the hospital's documentary system. The results of this study were compared to other published studies. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 63 years (24-88) and there were 172 (42.9%) females and 229 (57.1%) males. A total of 118 (29.4%) patients suffered from 235 complications and 22 (5.5%) died. DISCUSSION: Patient's age >70 years, patients with a preoperative neurological deficit, and patients with heavily bleeding metastases are at high risk for complications. The dorsoventral/dorsolateral approach had the highest complication rate.
