The anterolateral partial vertebrectomy approach for ventrally located cervical intramedullary cavernous angiomas.
OBJECTIVE
We report three cases with ventral cervical intramedullary cavernous angiomas. An anterolateral partial vertebrectomy was performed to surgically approach and successfully resect these lesions.


METHODS
All three patients presented with numbness in the upper extremities and investigation revealed a cavernous angioma on the ventral aspect of the spinal cord in each case. The lesion was exposed by an anterolateral partial vertebrectomy in all cases. Postoperative stabilization was achieved by using autografted iliac bone in all patients. In two patients, locking screws and plates were also used.


RESULTS
Complete resection of the cavernous angioma was performed in all patients. There was symptomatic relief in all cases, and there was no postoperative morbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
Anterolateral partial vertebrectomy provides direct exposure and is probably an ideal approach for selected cases with ventrally located intramedullary cavernous angiomas.
Nishikawa
Misao
M
Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. misao317@msic.med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
Ohata
Kenji
K
Ishibashi
Kenichi
K
Takami
Toshihiro
T
Goto
Takeo
T
Hara
Mitsuhiro
M
D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*