Bilateral C-1 lateral mass reconstruction following radical resection of a giant osteoblastoma of the atlas: case report

Abstract

Osteoblastoma is a rare, benign, osteoid-producing, and slow-growing primary bone tumor, typically arising in long bones or in the spine, with a slight male predominance. This report describes the surgical treatment of a giant C-1 (atlantal) osteoblastoma diagnosed in a young male patient with neurofibromatosis Type 1. The authors describe the clinical presentation, the surgical procedure for complete excision and stabilization, and results as of the 1-year follow-up. They detail a bilateral occipitoaxial spinal interarticular stabilization technique that they used after complete tumor excision. To the best of their knowledge, this is the first case of bilateral C-1 lateral mass reconstruction by this technique to be reported in the literature.