It is known that metastases in the spine are detected in more than 70% of cancer patients, and in 10% of such patients, compression of nerve structures and severe neurological disorders develop. The role of surgery for metastatic tumors of the spine is in the focus of attention, since the operation can improve mechanical stability, decompress nerve structures and reduce the intensity of pain. However, what role the operation plays in increasing life expectancy and how to correctly assess the results of treatment remains controversial and the opinions of specialists are controversial, since the assessment is often made by oncologists, but it is the surgeon who more fully evaluates the potential risks and benefits of surgical interventions. Therefore, it is important for surgeons to understand what prognostic factors affect the quality and duration of life. This article presents the most cited classifications and assessments before 2009, as well as all classifications and assessments obtained after 2010 regarding metastatic lesions of the spine, as well as classifications used to develop treatment tactics obtained from the electronic databases PubMed, MEDLINE, articles, monographs, abstracts, dissertations and other sources of scientific and medical information. 57 main publications with II and III levels of evidence were selected, 6 classifications and 24 rating scales were considered. In order to construct the necessary tactics of the surgical strategy, the classification / assessment methods were divided into anatomical classification / assessment methods, neurological symptom / instability assessment methods, and assessment systems for predicting life expectancy. The study showed that in the surgical treatment of metastatic tumors of the spine, it is important to use the same rating scales and classifications to select indications and assess the results of surgical treatment, as well as to achieve meaningful comparisons between published series. Conclusion. The classifications and rating scales used for metastatic lesions of the spine do not fully reflect the type of surgical treatment: there is no algorithm for restoring the support ability of the spine, which is very important for this category of patients

Keywords: spinal metastases, classification of metastatic lesions, decompression-stabilizing operations

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