Percutaneous Ethibloc injection in aneurysmal bone cysts.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Interventional Radiology
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are benign, expansile bone lesions often requiring surgical intervention.
• Previous treatments for ABCs include curettage, bone grafting, and sclerotherapy, with varying success rates and complication profiles.
• Ethibloc, a thrombogenic and fibrogenic zein-based solution, presents a potential minimally invasive treatment option.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ethibloc injection for treating aneurysmal bone cysts.
• To determine if Ethibloc can serve as a primary treatment or an alternative for recurrent or refractory ABCs.

Main Methods:

• Ten patients with ABCs underwent CT-guided percutaneous Ethibloc injection.
• Ethibloc was used as primary treatment in five patients, and for recurrent/refractory cases in five.
• Median follow-up was 27 months, with some patients requiring a second injection.

Main Results:

• All patients experienced symptom relief.
• Radiographic resolution occurred in seven patients; three showed partial response.
• Minor complications included transient inflammation (two patients) and an aseptic abscess (one patient).

Conclusions:

• CT-guided Ethibloc injection is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment for aneurysmal bone cysts.
• The procedure halts cyst expansion and stimulates new bone formation, potentially avoiding surgery.
• This technique is suitable for primary management of non-spinal ABCs.