Aneurysmal bone cysts of the vertebrae

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Spinal Oncology
• Pediatric Orthopedics

Background:

• Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are rare, benign, expansile, osteolytic bone lesions.
• Spinal ABCs represent a small subset of all ABCs, presenting unique diagnostic and management challenges.
• Understanding the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and treatment outcomes of spinal ABCs is crucial for effective patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the clinical records of patients diagnosed with aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) of the spine.
• To analyze the demographic data, presenting symptoms, and treatment modalities employed.
• To evaluate the efficacy and recurrence rates associated with different surgical interventions for spinal ABCs.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 14 patients diagnosed with spinal ABCs between October 1952 and November 2005.
• Data sourced from the Scottish Bone Tumour Registry.
• Analysis of patient demographics, symptom duration, affected spinal levels, surgical procedures, and follow-up outcomes.

Main Results:

• The lumbar spine was the most frequently affected site (n=6), followed by thoracic (n=4), cervical (n=3), and sacral (n=1) vertebrae.
• Common symptoms included back pain (14/14), palpable spinal mass (4/14), spinal deformity (2/14), and neurological deficits (5/14).
• Intra-lesional excision (curettage) was a common and effective treatment, with two recurrences observed over a mean follow-up of 7.1 years.

Conclusions:

• Aneurysmal bone cysts of the spine predominantly occur in young females.
• Intra-lesional excision, with or without adjuvant therapies, demonstrates effectiveness in managing spinal ABCs.
• The study highlights the importance of surgical intervention and the generally favorable prognosis for spinal ABCs.