Laminopedicular Osteotomy for En-bloc Resection of Posterolateral Thoracic Osteoblastoma: Technical Note

Abstract

Osteoblastomas are a type of primary osseous neoplasm that exhibit a proclivity for the spine, primarily the posterior elements. While generally considered benign, some variants of osteoblastoma exhibit aggressive growth with lytic osseous destruction and soft tissue invasion, with some recurring after initial treatment. Given their proximity to vital structures and potential for rapid growth, these tumors are often managed with aggressive surgery, with en-bloc resection preferred. Here we describe our osteotomy technique for resecting en bloc a posterolateral thoracic osteoblastoma causing rapidly progressive myelopathy in a 17-year-old male. Successful treatment of osteoblastoma in a 17-year-old male demonstrates the efficacy of our laminopedicular osteotomy technique in treating 1 instance of a rapidly presenting spinal tumor. This case bolsters the growing body of literature that favors the outcomes of a more conservative approach to en-bloc resection of spinal tumors.