Bertolini, Giacomo

The craniovertebral junction (CVJ) is a complex transition area between the skull and cervical spine. Pathologies such as chordoma, chondrosarcoma and aneurysmal bone cysts may be encountered in this anatomical area and may predispose individuals to joint instability. An adequate clinical and radiological assessment is mandatory to predict any postoperative instability and the need for fixation. There is no common consensus on the need for, timing and setting of craniovertebral fixation techniques after a craniovertebral oncological surgery. The aim of the present review is to summarize the anatomy, biomechanics and pathology of the craniovertebral junction and to describe the available surgical approaches to and considerations of joint instability after craniovertebral tumor resections. Although a one-size-fits-all approach cannot encompass the extremely challenging pathologies encountered in the CVJ area, including the possible mechanical instability that is a consequence of oncological resections, the optimal surgical strategy (anterior vs posterior vs posterolateral) tailored to the patient’s needs can be assessed preoperatively in many instances. Preserving the intrinsic and extrinsic ligaments, principally the transverse ligament, and the bony structures, namely the C1 anterior arch and occipital condyle, ensures spinal stability in most of the cases. Conversely, in situations that require the removal of those structures, or in cases where they are disrupted by the tumor, a thorough clinical and radiological assessment is needed to timely detect any instability and to plan a surgical stabilization procedure. We hope that this review will help shed light on the current evidence and pave the way for future studies on this topic.

Abstract Giant intracranial aneurysms still represent a serious threat because of high mortality and morbidity and an absence of a widely accepted treatment. Herein, we illustrate the case of a 54-yr-old woman with progressive neurological decline who was found to have an unruptured, giant, partially thrombosed aneurysm of the left supraclinoid portion of internal carotid artery (ICA) with brainstem compression. In this video, we demonstrate the successful stepwise treatment of this lesion with endovascular embolization of the patent portion of the aneurysm, followed by microsurgical debulking and clipping. At 3-yr follow-up, the patient experienced a neurological improvement and performed all normal activity. For patients in which single-modality therapy does not assure a safe treatment option, multimodal management with endovascular and open techniques should be considered as a therapeutic option for complex giant intracranial aneurysms. Consent was given by the patient prior to the surgical procedure. Consent and approval for this operative video, in light of the retrospective nature and use of anonymized material, were waived.