[Inflammatory and tumorous metastases of the thoracic spine: operative management and results (author's transl)].

133 patients with inflammatory or tumorous metastases of the thoracic spine were operated upon within the last 11 years. Radical removal of inflammatory lesions with consecutive corticalis-spongiosa-plasty, taken from the christa pelvis, and chemotherapy are a therapeutical unit. Excision of the tumor with supplement bone grafting or "Pallacosplombe" and stabilization according to the principals of osteosynthesis are rewarding in individual cases. Four out of nine tumor patients survived two years after surgery.