Minimally Invasive Resection of an S3 Osteoid Osteoma Using an Intraoperative O-Arm: A Technical Note

Osteoid osteomas are benign primary bone tumors that typically arise in posterior vertebrae of the spine. For patients with severe pain or those poorly controlled with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, surgical management is the mainstay of treatment. The recommended surgical treatment option is complete open excision, although minimally invasive CT-guided percutaneous excision and CT-guided radiofrequency ablation have been reported. Open resection can result in prolonged hospital stays, activity restrictions, and possible spinal destabilization. We sought to utilize a lateral minimally invasive approach. We highlight the importance of aggressive surgical resection and the utility of using fluoroscopy and O-arm guidance to optimize the extent of resection. We report a pediatric case of a 12-year-old male who presented with an S3 osteoid osteoma. The patient underwent a minimally invasive resection with complete resection and confirmation of the histopathologic diagnosis. Postoperative imaging showed complete resection of the tumor. The patient went home five hours after surgery with return to daily activities; his symptoms resolved completely. However, the patient had symptomatic recurrence and underwent a second more aggressive minimally invasive resection using O-arm guidance. At the current three-month follow-up, the patient is symptom-and tumor-free. The minimally invasive resection of a pediatric sacral osteoid osteoma is a valid alternative to standard open resection and is associated with a decreased blood loss, decreased length of stay in the hospital, and decreased time to full functional recovery. The pitfalls are learning curve and risk of incomplete resection that can be counterbalanced with an intraoperative O-arm to guide resection and confirm complete excision.