CASE 28: Aneurysmal Bone Cyst in the Third Lumbar (L3) Vertebra

• 15 year old boy
• The patient has had back pain for 8 months, which has gradually worsened, and numbness in his right leg has begun.
• A patient with a lytic and cystic mass in the L3 vertebra underwent biopsy under CT guidance, which revealed an aneurysmal bone cyst.
• After the mass was removed (aggressive curettage), bone cement was applied to the resulting cavity, and the surgery was completed with screw fixation (posterior instrumentation).
• The patient experienced no problems during or after the surgery and was discharged walking without pain.

Before the surgery: X-ray shows damage to the right pedicle of the L3 vertebra, CT scan shows bone destruction, and MRI shows fluid accumulation.

Post-surgery: The X-ray shows the application of bone cement to the cavity created after tumor removal and the posterior instrumentation procedure.