Open vertebroplasty for cervical spine aggressive hemangioma

Abstract

Objective.To analyze results of open vertebroplasty for aggressive hemangioma of the cervical spine.Material and Methods. Surgical treatment was performed in 12 patients with aggressive hemangioma of the cervical spine. Vertebroplasty was performed through an open anterolateral approach under the control of an image intensifier.Results. Pain intensity was 7.0 ± 1.0 on VAS before surgery and 1.8 ± 1.2 immediately after surgery. Neck disability index (NDI) was 17.5 ± 6.5 before surgery and 4.3 ± 1.7 after surgery. One month after surgery VAS and NDI scores were 0. There were no complications in the postoperative period. A control study visualized from 82 % to 98 % completeness of filling the bone defect with polymethyl methacrylate. Bone composite migration outside the vertebral body was not detected in any of the operated patients. Control images taken 6 and 12 months after surgical treatment did not reveal continued tumor growth and signs of any osteonecrotic processes in bone tissue as a response to PMMA bone cement in any case.Conclusion. Despite the widespread and rather long period of using vertebroplasty, the issues of the choice of approaches when performing it on the cervical spine are still debatable. In order to reduce the risk of iatrogenic complications in cervical vertebroplasty, the open approach can be used which increases the treatment effectiveness.