Custom-tailored minimally invasive partial C2-corpectomy for ventrally located intramedullary cavernous malformation

Neurosurg Rev. 2013 Jul;36(3):487-91. doi: 10.1007/s10143-013-0457-y. Epub 2013 Apr 9.

Abstract

Approaches to ventrally located intramedullary lesions of the upper cervical spine can be extremely challenging. We present a custom-tailored, minimally invasive anterior approach to a ventrally located, intramedullary cavernous hemangioma with partial lateral corpectomy of C2, complete resection of the lesion and subsequent reconstruction. A 20-year-old woman presented with the history of progressive numbness of the left upper and lower extremities and some episodes of severe headaches was referred to magnetic resonance imaging: Here, an intramedullary lesion with typical radiological features for a cavernous malformation at the ventral surface of the spinal cord at the C2 level was detected. The surgical procedure was performed under general anesthesia and electrophysiological monitoring (somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEP), muscle motor-evoked potentials (MEP), and D-wave recording). Complete resection of the cavernous malformation was achieved and reconstruction of the cervical spine was performed using a custom-tailored cage. Intraoperative neuromonitoring during resection, revealed a transient MEP loss, but unchanged D-wave and SEP recordings indicated unchanged neurological outcome. Early clinical follow-up of the patient revealed no new neurological deficits. At 3-month follow-up, there was some improvement of the sensory function. This custom-tailored minimally invasive anterior approach to a ventrally located intramedullary cavernous malformation with partial C2-corpectomy describes a possible and successful approach to ventrally located intramedullary lesions of the upper cervical spinal cord. Additionally, the hereby-described approach is not related to cervical instability.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Evoked Potentials, Motor / physiology
  • Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / physiology
  • Female
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / pathology
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / surgery*
  • Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal / etiology
  • Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal / pathology
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Ligaments / surgery
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / methods*
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Neurosurgical Procedures / methods*
  • Spine / pathology
  • Spine / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult