Utilization of autogenous iliac bone shaped into a low-profile form to repair bone defects following cervical infection: A case report

Figure 1 Imaging findings on admission and before surgery. A: X-ray imaging upon admission revealing low-density shadows along the front of the C3 and C4 vertebrae, with an interruption of the bone cortex and a decrease in the C3/4 intervertebral space; B: Computed tomography scan upon admission showing destruction of the bone within the C3 and C4 vertebrae; C: Admission MRI revealing hyperintensity on T2-weighted fat-suppressed images at the anterior margins of the C3 and C4 vertebral bodies, with mild spinal cord compression; D: Preoperative MRI demonstrating hyperintensity on T2-weighted fat-suppressed images involving the C3 and C4 vertebral bodies and intervertebral space, with marked spinal cord compression.

Figure 2 Intraoperative, histopathological, and radiographic findings. A and B: Trimming of a cortical iliac bone block into a low profile to match the bone defect, and then its fixation with two screws, for two sides of the bone cortex; C: Pathology following the surgery showed fibrous tissue proliferation, an infiltration of acute and chronic inflammatory cells, and granulation tissue formation, with locally visible fragmented bone tissue; D: X-ray follow-up at 2 months later showing satisfactory fusion between the iliac bone block and the vertebral body, good internal fixation without loosening, and preserved physiological curvature and stability of the cervical spine.