BACKGROUND/AIM: We conducted a randomized controlled trial to investigate whether minimally access spine surgery (MASS) is less morbid than open surgery (OS) in patients with metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 49 MSCC patients were included in the trial. The outcome measures were bleeding (L), operation time (min), re-operations and prolonged wound healing.

RESULTS: The median age was 67 years (range=42-85 years) and 40% were men. The peri-operative blood loss in the MASS-group was significantly lower than that in the OS-group; 0.175L vs. 0.500L, (p=0.002). The median operation time for MASS was 142 min (range=72-203 min) vs. 103 (range=59-435 min) for OS (p=0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups concerning revision surgery or delayed wound healing.

CONCLUSION: The MASS technique in MSCC patients is associated with less blood loss, but a longer operation time when compared to the OS technique.