title: Aneurysmal bone cyst as a rare cause of spinal cord compression in a young child.
abstract: METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report: 1) one of the youngest cases of aneurysmal bone cysts presenting with cord compression at the cervicothoracic junction with 7-year follow-up; and 2) the technique we used to stabilize such a small spine.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Aneurysmal bone cyst is an uncommon but well-recognized tumor affecting the spine of children. The mean age of presentation is 16 years. It has hardly been reported below the age of 4 years. All data are in the form of case reports or series. Surgical or nonoperative management can be used. Spinal implant systems are not designed for use in very small children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A girl presented at age 2 years and 3 months with cord compression at the cervicothoracic junction. After an inconclusive biopsy, a formal excision and reconstruction of the C7 and T1 were performed anteriorly and posteriorly. We used a fibular graft, internal fixation with crossed plates from the maxillofacial implant tray and a Cervifix rod contoured into a rectangle with sublaminar titanium cables. Postsurgery, she had a left Horner syndrome that has never recovered and motor weakness of the right arm that improved but did not fully recover. She developed a staphylococcal infection 6 months postsurgery that was managed by removal of the rectangle. She developed a posterior recurrence 10 months postsurgery, which was managed surgically. Follow-up has been for 7 years without further evidence of recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both surgical and nonsurgical management has been advocated for these tumors. The cord compression at presentation forced us toward surgical management. It is likely that observational data are the only evidence available for clinical decision-making. In this case, we were able to obtain good access to the front of the upper thoracic spine by a supraclavicular approach. Tiny plates are available to maxillofacial surgeons that can be adapted for use in the spines of small children.
authors.affiliation: Great Western Hospital, Swindon, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sunny D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Deo
authors.forename: Jeremy C T
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fairbank
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilson-Macdonald
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pike
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Athanasou
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wheeler
mesh_terms: D017824:Bone Cysts, Aneurysmal / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome