Spinal separation surgery is a specialized, minimally invasive procedure used primarily in the treatment of spinal tumors, particularly metastatic tumors compressing the spinal cord and spinal nerves. The goal is to decompress the spinal cord by removing enough of the tumor to create a safe margin, or "separation," between the tumor and the spinal cord and nerves, often followed by targeted radiation therapy by Dr. Ramos' team of radiation oncologists. Unlike traditional open spinal tumor surgery, which has a high rate of complications and morbidity, spinal separation surgery is less invasive and has a faster recovery time, so that patients can still undergo other treatments for their cancer sooner rather than later. This approach is particularly advantageous for patients with metastatic cancer, who may not be candidates for aggressive open surgery due to overall health or limited life expectancy. By combining minimally invasive surgical decompression with modern radiation techniques, spinal separation surgery offers effective pain relief and spinal stability, resulting in a better quality of life for our cancer patients.