BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts of the cervical spine, frequently affecting pediatric patients, is a challenge to operating surgeons. Complete tumor resection offers the best chance for cure. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present the case of a child with an expansile aneurysmal bone cyst of the cervical spine that involves all 3 spinal columns. The advantages of combining a posterolateral followed by anterior approach after a preoperative angiography and vertebral artery balloon occlusion testing provided the added safety to maximize the extent of tumor resection. Spinal stabilization was successfully achieved in both approaches. CONCLUSION: The challenge of surgically resecting aneurysmal bone cysts of the cervical spine in children enabled us to achieve a total resection with the help of preoperative angiography and vertebral artery balloon occlusion testing. Spinal instability should be addressed with reconstruction and stabilization techniques.
BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts of the cervical spine, frequently affecting pediatric patients, is a challenge to operating surgeons. Complete tumor resection offers the best chance for cure. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present the case of a child with an expansile aneurysmal bone cyst of the cervical spine that involves all 3 spinal columns. The advantages of combining a posterolateral followed by anterior approach after a preoperative angiography and vertebral artery balloon occlusion testing provided the added safety to maximize the extent of tumor resection. Spinal stabilization was successfully achieved in both approaches. CONCLUSION: The challenge of surgically resecting aneurysmal bone cysts of the cervical spine in children enabled us to achieve a total resection with the help of preoperative angiography and vertebral artery balloon occlusion testing. Spinal instability should be addressed with reconstruction and stabilization techniques.