Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Glenoid labrum ossification and mechanical restriction of joint motion: extraosseous manifestations of melorheostosis

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Skeletal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We report a case of a 47-year-old man who presented with progressive loss of motion and pain in the right shoulder. Radiographs of the shoulder demonstrated dense ossification in the glenoid and humeral head with extension into the periarticular soft tissues. CT and MRI scans confirmed the radiographic findings and also revealed ossification of the glenoid labrum. A radiographic diagnosis of melorheostosis, an uncommon benign sclerosing bone dysplasia, was made. Because of the patient’s severe symptomatology, he underwent total shoulder arthroplasty. Histological analysis of the resected masses was consistent with melorheostosis with a few areas covered by a cartilage cap. This case illustrates several uncommon but important features of melorheostosis, including mechanical obstruction of joint motion requiring joint replacement, ossification of the glenoid labrum, and cartilage-covering portions of the intra-articular masses, not to be confused with cartilage-producing tumors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Leri A, Joanny L. Une affection non décrite de os. Hyperostose “en coulée” sur toute a la longuer d’un membre ou “melorhéostose”. Bull Mem Soc Med Hop Paris 1922; 46: 1141–1145.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Campbell CJ, Papademetriou T, Bonfiglio M. Melorheostosis. A report of the clinical, roentgenographic, and pathological findings in fourteen cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1968; 50: 1281–1304.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Murray RO, McCredie J. Melorheostosis and the sclerotomes: a radiological correlation. Skeletal Radiol 1979; 4: 57–71.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Morris JM, Samilson RL, Corley CL. Melorheostosis. Review of the literature and report of an interesting case with a nineteen-year follow-up. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1963; 45: 1191–1206.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. McCarthy M, Mehdian H, Fairbairn KJ, Stevens A. Melorheostosis of the tenth and eleventh thoracic vertebrae crossing the facet joint: a rare cause of back pain. Skeletal Radiol 2004; 33: 283–286.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Judkiewicz AM, Murphey MD, Resnik CS, Newberg AH, Temple HT, Smith WS. Advanced imaging of melorheostosis with emphasis on MRI. Skeletal Radiol 2001; 30: 447–453.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Rooney RC, Fernicola PJ, Pitcher JD. Arthroscopic excision of intra-articular ossifications. A case report and review of the literature. Am J Orthop 1996; 25: 437–440.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Moulder E, Marsh C. Soft tissue knee contracture of the knee due to melorheostosis, treated by total knee arthroplasty. Knee 2006; 13: 395–396.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Greenspan A, Steiner G, Sotelo D, Norman A, Sotelo A, Sotelo-Ortiz F. Mixed sclerosing bone dysplasia coexisting with dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica (Trevor-Fairbank disease). Skeletal Radiol 1986; 15: 452–454.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. Subhas.

Additional information

Presented at the 34th members meeting of the International Skeletal Society, Budapest, Hungary, October 2007.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Subhas, N., Sundaram, M., Bauer, T.W. et al. Glenoid labrum ossification and mechanical restriction of joint motion: extraosseous manifestations of melorheostosis. Skeletal Radiol 37, 177–181 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-007-0405-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-007-0405-4

Keywords

Navigation