Spine Surgery

January 12, 2026

This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Yvette Theodore, N.P., Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope^® Cancer Center Duarte.

Spine surgery may be recommended as a treatment option for patients with benign spinal tumors or spinal cancer. The goal of surgery for spinal tumors is to remove as much of a tumor as possible and relieve pressure on the spine caused by the tumor. Surgery to relieve pressure on the spine is sometimes called decompression surgery. After the procedure, expert surgeons then stabilize the spine so that the body can recover effectively. Spinal surgery is also used to treat some complications related to other types of cancer, for instance, bone disease caused by multiple myeloma.

How is Spine Surgery Performed?

In the past, spine surgery was commonly performed using conventional open surgery. However, recent advances in medical techniques and technologies have resulted in other, less invasive, spine surgery options.

Minimally invasive spine surgery involves making small incisions along the spine. Surgeons then perform the procedure through these incisions using small tools guided by cameras or other imaging technology. The benefits of minimally invasive surgery include faster recovery times and less scarring. Surgeons will recommend minimally invasive spine surgery based on a wide range of factors, including whether they know the exact location of a tumor and a patient’s overall health.

Robotic surgery techniques may be used as part of a minimally invasive surgical procedure for spinal tumors. Robotic tools are used to help provide an even greater degree of precision for surgeons performing spinal surgery.

Traditional spine surgery, or open spine surgery, involves making a 5-6-inch incision in the spine and opening the tissue and muscle around the spinal cord in order to access a tumor. Traditional spinal surgery has a longer recovery time than minimally invasive spine surgery. However, it is sometimes recommended if a tumor is in a place that cannot be reached as easily with minimally invasive surgery.

Types of Spine Surgery

There are many different types of spinal surgeries. For patients with benign or malignant spinal tumors, surgeons will recommend an approach based on a wide range of factors. These include what type of tumor a patient has, where it is located, what symptoms a patient is experiencing and their goals for treatment.

En bloc resection is a term that refers to any surgery that is designed to remove a tumor in full, along with a small amount of surrounding healthy tissue. En bloc spine surgery often removes a part of or an entire vertebra from the spine in order to remove a tumor.

Laminectomy is a procedure to remove the rear part of a vertebra (the lamina) to access and remove a tumor. Laminectomy is often used as a form of decompression surgery, which relieves pressure on the spine caused by a tumor.

Lumbar disk replacement is a procedure that involves surgery to remove a damaged lumbar disk (called a lumbar diskectomy) and replace it with an artificial lumbar disk. It may be used in combination with spinal tumor surgery.

Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are procedures to treat fractures in the vertebrae. During kyphoplasty, a small balloon-like device is surgically placed in the vertebra and inflated. Bone cement is then injected into this space to seal the fracture. A vertebroplasty also uses cement to fix a fracture but does not use a balloon. These procedures may be used in combination with surgery to remove a tumor.

Posterolateral resection for spinal tumors is a surgery that is performed from the side of a patient’s abdomen. Accessing the spine from a patient’s side involves making smaller and fewer incisions in the tissue, which can make recovery faster. Posterolateral resection may be recommended to remove tumors that are harder to reach from a patient’s back.

Spinal cord decompression is the term for any surgical procedure to relieve pressure on the spine that is caused by a medical condition, such as a tumor. Some common types of decompression surgeries are kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty and lumbar diskectomy. Decompression surgery is also used to create more space in the spinal cord, so that other therapies like radiation are more effective.

Spinal fusion surgery is the name for any procedure in which surgeons fuse, or join together, two vertebrae. Fusing vertebrae can relieve pressure on the spine. It may be used in combination with a surgery to remove a tumor. There are many types of spinal fusion, including both open and minimally invasive options.

Spinal instrumentation is the term for the part of a spinal surgery in which surgeons place supporting elements such as screws, rods or plates in the back to support the spinal cord. It is a common step in many spinal surgeries.

Vertebrectomy is surgery to remove an entire vertebra. The vertebra may be replaced with bone from elsewhere in the body or with metal screws and rods.