Tumors in the spinal canal
Tumors in the spinal canal are usually caused by spinal tumors growing into the canal. They therefore do not originate in the spinal canal, but in the spinal column. Spinal tumors can either be primary, i.e.
they develop directly in the bones of the spine, or secondary, i.e. they are metastases from other tumors. There are benign and malignant tumors that can form in the spine. Benign tumors include osteoid osteomas, osteoblastomas, hemangiomas, fibrous histiocytomas, aneurysmatic bone cysts and eosinophilic granulomas.
They are usually only noticeable by pain and only very rarely by neurological deficits. Most benign tumors are random findings. They are usually only treated if the spinal canal is also affected.
Malignant tumors are for example Ewing’s sarcoma, osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma. Due to their invasive growth, these tumors pose a great danger to the spinal cord and must therefore be operated on if possible. In addition, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are usually necessary. Metastases in the area of the spinal column are also quite common and can lead to damage to the spinal cord and even paraplegia due to vertebral deformations and ingrowth of the tumor into the spinal canal. Here, too, a fast and intensive therapy is therefore necessary.
Spinal canal injections
Probably the most important type of injection into the spinal canal is peridural infiltration. Here, drugs are slowly injected into the peridural space (space between the two sheets of the outer meninges) of the spinal cord. The active ingredients are local anesthetics and glucocorticoids.
Local anaesthetics are used for local anaesthesia, for example during surgery or for pain relief. Glucocorticoids, such as cortisone, are used to treat inflammation. In combination, they are used to treat various orthopedic diseases, such as nerve root syndrome (damage to the spinal nerve due to narrowing of the spinal canal), herniated disc or spinal canal stenosis.
Spinal anaesthesia is a form of local anaesthesia for operations in the lower abdomen, groin, perineum and legs. It is probably best known for its use in Caesarean section. Here the active substance is injected into the subdural space and is therefore very quickly effective.
Epidural anaesthesia (PDA) is particularly important for pain relief and is mainly used in obstetrics to relieve pain during labor. The epidural is injected into the epidural space and is therefore somewhat slower acting than spinal anesthesia.
