Fig. 2

Intraoperative photographs. a Dura was widely exposed after en-bloc excision of the posterior elements of T10-T11, including bilateral T10-T11 facet joints, by cutting the pars interarticularis of the lamina of T10 and pedicles to the transverse processes of T11 using a T-saw. b After opening the outer layer of dura, the inner layer of dura (asterisk) surrounding the tumor was cut and the tumor was lifted up. c The tumor was resected en bloc with the inner layer of dura. d The outer layer of dura was closed with titanium clips. e Following complete resection of the tumor and repair of the outer layer of dura, the excised posterior elements were recapped exactly to their anatomical sites and sutured