ABSTRACT
Background: Aneurysmal bone cysts are rare occurrences in the cervical spine. Surgical treatment
in pediatric patients is a challenge. Complete tumor resection offers the best chance
for cure.
Description: Diagnosis and surgical management of an expansile aneurysmal bone cyst of the cervical
spine involving all three spinal columns in a 10-year-old boy.
Results: Surgical treatment included tumor excision and circumferential fusion, and produced
no neurological or vascular sequelae. This approach minimizes the risk of recurrence
and the possibility of postoperative spinal instability.
Conclusion: Spinal instability is preferably addressed with reconstruction and stabilization.
Cervical aneurismal bone cyst lesions are ideally treated with complete resection
to minimize the chance of recurrence. In pediatric cases, defects created by resection
should be corrected by fusion to minimize the risk of postoperative instability and
growth abnormality.
