Anterior Column Reconstruction with Vascularized Rib After Thoracic Spondylectomy: A Case Report

JBJS Case Connect. 2022 Jan 20;12(1). doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.21.00564.

Abstract

Case: A 35-year-old man with a chondrosarcoma of the thoracic spine was treated with neoadjuvant proton radiotherapy (RT), total en bloc spondylectomy (TES), and adjuvant RT. Multiple vertebrae were removed to ensure negative margins, which created a sizable midthoracic defect. A vascularized rib autograft was harvested and intussuscepted within a femoral allograft for reconstruction of the anterior column and supplemented with posterior and lateral instrumentation.

Conclusion: This report demonstrates the feasibility of using a rib autograft within a femoral allograft sleeve to achieve immediate robust biomechanical support and eventual osseous union after thoracic TES for malignant tumors.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chondrosarcoma* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Ribs / pathology
  • Ribs / surgery
  • Spinal Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Spinal Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Spine / surgery
  • Transplantation, Autologous