Aneurysmal bone cysts of the spine

Thirteen patients with aneurysmal bone cyst of the spine (excluding sacral lesions) were retrospectively reviewed. Treatment for aneurysmal bone cysts remains controversial, but surgical resection, irradiation, and embolization are common treatment modalities for those involving the spine. Of 102 patients with aneurysmal bone cysts, 15 had a lesion of the spine, including 2 sacral cases. Of the 13 patients with a lesion of the thoracic or lumbar spine, 9 underwent resection of the lesion, 2 curettage and cementation, and 2 only currettage. Eleven patients underwent segmental arthrodesis with instrumentation after treatment of the primary or recurrent lesion, while 2 patients underwent segmental arthrodesis using autogeneic bone. Nine patients did not develop a local recurrence after resection of the lesion. However, the 2 patients who underwent curettage alone developed local recurrences. None of 4 patients developed recurrences after curettage and cementation. After recurrence, 1 patient underwent additional resection with irradiation, and 1 patient underwent resection alone. At the final follow-up, all lesions were under control. In one patient, lumbar kyphosis developed after segmental arthrodesis with instrumentation, and arthrodesis was performed again. Radical resection of aneurysmal bone cysts of the spine with instrumentation is the optimal method of acquiring a high degree of local control and preventing spinal deformity.