Transoral kyphoplasty for tumors in C2

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The management of tumors of the C2 body remains controversial. In cancer patients, major procedures may be contraindicated, and nonoperative treatment could fail. PURPOSE: To describe a new surgical technique, the transoral kyphoplasty, that we performed in 3 cases of tumors in C2 after nonoperative treatment failure. STUDY DESIGN: Case series of three patients. PATIENT SAMPLE: Three patients from the senior author's practice. OUTCOME MEASURES: To reduce pain and avoid both C2 collapse and prolonged immobilization, transoral kyphoplasties were performed. METHODS: From February 2004 to January 2006, three cases of tumors in C2 did not show healing after nonoperative treatments. RESULTS: No complications and/or complaints were related to the procedure. There were no C2-related symptoms or neurological problems. The first patient died 8 months after surgery. The second and the third are alive with follow-ups of 2 years and 6 months, respectively. In all cases, cervical motion was restored, and patients are pain free, with no findings regarding pathologic mobility/instability on X-ray and computed tomography scan. CONCLUSIONS: Transoral kyphoplasty proved to be safe, quick, and effective in reducing pain and avoiding vertebral collapse in patients with tumors in C2 not responding to nonoperative treatment.