A retrospective review of spinal masses at a South African tertiary neurosurgery unit in Durban (2020–2024)

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of spinal masses is not well documented in South Africa. Understanding their occurrence, distribution and histopathological spectrum is crucial for optimising diagnosis, treatment, and management strategies in clinical practice.
Methods: A retrospective, descriptive analysis was conducted for patients who underwent spinal surgery for spinal masses between 01 January 2020, and 31 December 2024. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and correlation analyses were used to assess relationships between demographics, mass type, surgical intervention, and outcomes.
Results: Twenty-eight patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 37.74 years (standard deviation [s.d.] 18.19). The most common tumours were schwannomas (28.6%) and meningiomas (21.4%). Laminectomy was the most common surgical procedure performed (60.7%), followed by laminoplasty (21.4%) and fusion (7.1%). A significant negative correlation was found between age and follow-up duration (r = −0.579, p = 0.001) and between age and tumour type (r = −0.568, p = 0.002). A significant positive correlation between surgical intervention and mass type (r = 0.541, p = 0.003) was also found.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that schwannomas and meningiomas were the most predominant types of spinal masses observed within the cohort. Laminectomy was the principal surgical approach utilised.
Contribution: Significant associations between patient age, tumour type, and surgical interventions may inform future clinical decisions and research.