Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) of the spine is a locally aggressive benign lesion which can be treated by en bloc resection with wide margin to reduce the risk of local recurrence. To avoid morbidity associated with surgery, selective arterial embolization (SAE) can be considered the first-line treatment for ABCs of the spine. We previously introduced the use of autologous bone marrow concentrate (BMC) injection therapy to stimulate bone healing and regeneration in ABC of the spine. In this prospective study we described the clinical and radiological outcomes of percutaneous injection of autologous BMC in a series of patients affected by ABCs of the spine. Fourteen patients (6 male, 8 female) were treated between June 2014 and December 2019 with BMC injection for ABC of the spine. The mean age was 17.85 years. The mean follow up was 37.4 months (range 12–60 months). The dimension of the cyst and the degree of ossification were measured by Computed Tomography (CT) scans before the treatment and during follow-up visits. Six patients received a single dose of BMC, five patients received two doses and in three patients three doses of BMC were administered. The mean ossification of the cyst (expressed in Hounsfield units) increased statistically from 43.48±2.36 HU to 161.71±23.48 HU during follow-up time and the ossification was associated to an improvement of the clinical outcomes. The mean ossification over time was significantly higher in patients treated with a single injection compared to patients treated with multiple injections. No significant difference in ossification was found between cervical and non-cervical localization of the cyst. Moreover, the initial size of the cyst was not statistically associated with the degree of ossification during follow-up. The results of this study reinforce our previous evidence on the use of BMC as a valid alternative for spinal ABC management when SAE is contraindicated or ineffective. The initial size of the cyst and its localization does not influence the efficacy of the treatment. However, data suggest that BMC injection could be indicated as treatment of choice for spinal ABC in young adolescent women

Introduction and Objective. Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) of the spine is a locally aggressive benign lesion which can be treated by en bloc resection with wide margin to reduce the risk of local recurrence. To avoid morbidity associated with surgery, selective arterial embolization (SAE) can be considered the first-line treatment for ABCs of the spine. Other emerging treatments for ABCs include bisphosphonates, percutaneous doxycycline, sclerotherapy and Denosumab. In addition, we previously introduced the use of autologous bone marrow concentrate (BMC) injection therapy to stimulate bone healing and regeneration in ABC of the spine. One of the potential advantages of such a method is that surgical treatments are not necessary, thus allowing for both a minimally invasive approach and the treatment of poorly accessible lesions. In this prospective study we described the clinical and radiological outcomes of percutaneous injection of autologous BMC in a series of patients affected by ABCs of the spine and followed for at least one year. Materials and Methods. Fourteen patients (6 male, 8 female) were treated between June 2014 to December 2019 with BMC injection for ABC of the spine. The mean age was 17.85 years. The mean follow up was 37.4 months (range 12– 60 months). The dimension of the cyst and the degree of ossification were measured by Computed Tomography (CT) scans before the treatment and during follow-up visits. Results. Six patients received a single dose of BMC, five patients received two doses and in three patients three doses of BMC were administered. The mean ossification of the cyst (expressed in Hounsfield units) increased statistically from 43.48±2.36 HU to 161.71±23.48 HU during follow-up time and the ossification was associated to an improvement of the clinical outcomes. The mean ossification over time was significantly higher in patients treated with a single injection compared to patients treated with multiple injections. No significant difference in ossification was found between cervical and non-cervical localization of the cyst. Moreover, the initial size of the cyst was not statistically associated with the degree of ossification during follow-up. We also observed that five out of six female patients (83.3%) were less than sixteen years old and four of these (66.7%) were managed with a single dose of BMC injection, while a higher percentage of male patients (6/8, 75%) were more than sixteen years old and more than one injection was administered to them. Conclusions. The results of this study reinforce our previous evidence on the use of BMC as a valid alternative for spinal ABC management when SAE is contraindicated or ineffective. The initial size of the cyst and its localization does not influence the efficacy of the treatment. However, BMC injection could be indicated as treatment of choice for spinal ABC in young adolescent women

The nature of the Aneurysmal Bone Cyst (ABC) is still controversial among benign tumor, often identifiable in the “aggressive” form (Enneking stage 3) or pseudotumoral lesion. It is well known instead the very high risk of intraoperative bleeding, indicating a strongly unfavorable relationship between the surgical morbidity and the nature of the disease. Recently, excellent results have been obtained in the treatment of ABC by repeated arterial embolizations (SAE), without any surgery, while initial experiences with administration of denosumab and doxycycline are still under study. This study presents the results of our initial experience in the treatment of vertebral ABC through the use of concentrated autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Two teenagers aged 15 years, male, and 14 years, female, came to our attention both with diagnosis of ABC in C2 vertebra which was histologically confirmed. They were both neurologically intact, the girl complained of neck pain. The arteriography showed in both cases close relationships between the pathological ABC vascularization and the vertebral and cervical ascending arteries, making treatment by selective arterial embolization unsuitable. After discussion with the parents of patients, we jointly decided to undertake the treatment by direct injection of MSCs preceded, in the same operative session, by harvesting from the iliac crest of 60 cc of bone marrow (by needle aspiration) and its separation with the use of concentration system Res-Q ™ 60 BMC. In the second case the treatment was repeated two times at distance of 4 months. The clinical and radiological follow-up is to of 30 months from the first treatment in both cases. In the first case the presence of newly formed bone within the ABC appeared as a clear sign of recovery just a month after the first treatment and increased gradually, until the cyst appeared completely ossified one year after the treatment, with associated disappearance of the pain. In the second case an initial sclerotic peripheral margin appeared after the second treatment and later ossification progressed, concurrently with the disappearance of the pain. Treatment with selective serial arterial embolization is considered effective in the treatment of ABC even if not without risks, mainly related to the frequent and repeated exposure to ionizing radiation. Furthermore, in a certain percentage of cases the procedure is not technically executable, especially for the presence of arteries afferent to the medullar vascularization. Inconsistent results were obtained with other procedures: the injection of calcitonin, steroid, alcoholic solutions, or the use of sclerosing substances. Radiation therapy, though very effective, it is not considered the first choice. Recently, promising results have been achieved by the injection of mononuclear cells derived from bone marrow in the treatment of Aneurysmal Bone Cyst. Based on the early results obtained in the two cases described, the injection of MSCs can be considered a valid alternative in the treatment of vertebral ABCs untreatable by embolization

Spinal surgery deals with the treatment of different pathological conditions of the spine such as tumors, deformities, degenerative disease, infections and traumas. Research in the field of vertebral surgery can be divided into two main areas: 1) research lines transversal to the different branches; 2) specific research lines for the different branches. The transversal lines of research are represented by strategies for the reduction of complications, by the development of minimally invasive surgical techniques, by the development of surgical navigation systems and by the development of increasingly reliable systems for the control of intra-operative monitoring. Instead, specific lines of research are developed within the different branches. In the field of oncological pathology, the current research concerns the development of in vitro models for the study of metastases and research for the study of targeted treatment methods such as electrochemotherapy and mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts. Research in the field of spinal deformities is focused on the development of increasingly minimally invasive methods and systems which, combined with appropriate pharmacological treatments, help reduce trauma, stress and post-operative pain. Scaffolds based on blood clots are also being developed to promote vertebral fusion, a fundamental requirement for improving the outcome of vertebral arthrodesis performed for the treatment of degenerative disc disease. To improve the management and the medical and surgical treatment of vertebral infections, research has focused on the definition of multidisciplinary strategies aimed at identifying the best possible treatment path. Thus, flow-charts have been created which allow to manage the patient suffering from vertebral infection. In addition, dedicated silver-coated surgical instrumentation and bone substitutes have been developed that simultaneously guarantee mechanical stability and reduce the risk of further local infection. In the field of vertebral traumatology, the most recent research studies have focused on the development of methods for the biostimulation of the bone growth in order to obtain, when possible, healing without surgery. Methods have also been developed that allow the minimally invasive percutaneous treatment of fractures by means of vertebral augmentation with PMMA, or more recently with the use of silicone which from a biomechanical point of view has an elastic modulus more similar to that of bone. It is clear that scientific research has changed clinical practice both in terms of medical and surgical management of patients with spinal pathologies. The results obtained stimulate the basic research to achieve even more. For this reason, new lines of research have been undertaken which, in the oncology field, aim at developing increasingly specific therapies against target receptors. Research efforts are also being multiplied to achieve regeneration of the degenerated intervertebral disc and to develop implants with characteristics increasingly similar to those of bone in order to improve mechanical stability and durability over time. Photodynamic therapies are being developed for the treatment of infections in order to reduce the use of antibiotic therapies. Finally, innovative lines of research are being launched to treat and regenerate damaged nerve structures with the goal, still far from today, of making patients with spinal cord injuries to walk

Abstract. Background. Benign osteolytic lesions of bone represent a diverse group of pathological and clinical entities. The aim of this study is to highlight the importance of intraoperative endoscopic assessment of intramedullary osteolytic lesions in view of the rate of complications during the postoperative follow up period. Methods. 69 patients (median age 27 years) with benign osteolytic lesion had been prospectively followed up from December 2017 to December 2018 in a university hospital in Cairo, Egypt and in a level-1 trauma center in United Kingdom. All patients had been treated by curettage with the aid of endoscopy through a standard incision and 2 portals. Histological analysis was confirmed from intraoperative samples analysis. All patients had received bone allografts from different donor sites (iliac crest, fibula, olecranon, etc). None of them received chemo or radiotherapy. Results. Most of lesions were enchondroma (n=29), followed by Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) (n=16), Fibrodysplasia (n=13), Chondromyxoid fibroma (n=3), simple bone cyst (n= 3), non-ossifying fibroma (n= 3), giant cell tumour (n= 1) and chondromyxoid fibroma (n = 1). Site of lesion varied from metacarpals (n = 29), femur (n= 1), lower leg (n= 31), and upper limb (n=18). Complications happened only in 9 cases (pathological fractures (n=2), infection (n= 1), recurrence (n=3, all aneurysmal bone cyst), residual pain (n= 3, all in tibia). None of cases developed malignant transformation. Conclusion. Endoscopy is recommended in management of benign osteolytic bone lesions; as it aids in better visualization of the hidden lesions that are missed even after doing apparently satisfactory blind curettage. From our study the recurrence rate is 2% compared to the known 12–18% recurrence rate in the blind technique from literature

Abstract. Background. Schwannomas are slow-growing, benign tumours normally originating from the Schwann cells of the nerve sheath. Intraosseous schwannoma accounts for 0.175% of primary bone tumours and extremely rare especially outside the axial skeleton. Monoclonal gammopathy has been associated with soft tissue schwannomas but never with the intraosseous variety. Presenting problem. A 55-year-old woman with a background of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) presented with a 2-year history of right thigh pain. CT scan showed a well defined, lytic lesion with a thin peripheral rim of sclerosis in the midshaft of the femur. MRI displayed a hyperintense, well marginated and homogenous lesion. Definitive diagnosis was made based on the classical histopathological appearance of schwannoma. Clinical management. We managed our patient with local curettage and prophylactic cephalomedullary nailing on the basis of a high mirel score. Discussion. Intraosseous schwannomas are poorly understood but most commonly reported in middle-aged women. Radiologically, their differential diagnosis includes malignant bone tumours, solitary bone cysts, aneurysmal bone cysts and giant cell tumours. As a result, they are usually diagnosed incidentally on histology. Although malignant transformation is possible in soft tissue schwannomas, all intraosseous schwannomas reported to date have been benign. This case demonstrates the importance of suspecting intraosseous schwannoma as a differential diagnosis for lytic bone lesions to avoid the overtreatment of patients. We also highlight monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance as a potential risk factor for a poorly understood disease and make recommendations about the appropriate management of these lesions. Declaration of Interest. (b) declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported:I declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project