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Results of a Minimally Invasive Technique for Treatment of Unicameral Bone Cysts

  • Clinical Research
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

Abstract

Unicameral bone cysts are benign bone lesions commonly seen in pediatric patients. Several treatment methods have been described with variable results and high recurrence rates. We previously reported short-term success of a minimally invasive technique that includes combining percutaneous decompression and grafting with medical-grade calcium sulfate pellets. The purpose of this study was to review the additional long-term results with a minimum followup of 24 months (average, 37 months; range, 24–70 months). We identified 55 patients with an average age of 10.8 years (range, 1.3–18 years). Forty-one of 55 lesions occurred in the humerus and femur. Forty-four of 55 (80%) patients had a partial or complete response after initial surgery; of these, seven obtained a partial or complete response after a repeat surgery (cumulative healing rate, 94%). Two patients underwent a third surgery (cumulative healing rate, 98%). One underwent a third repeat surgery (cumulative healing rate, 100%). There were no major complications associated with the procedure. Two patients had a superficial infection that resolved with oral antibiotics. Although some patients required a repeat procedure, complete or partial response at a minimum 24 months’ followup was achieved in all patients.

Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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Fig. 2A–C

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Istanbul Cerrahi Hastanesi, Istanbul, Turkey

    Gökçe Mik MD

  2. Department of Orthopaedics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Alexander Manteghi BS

  3. Children’s Orthopaedic Center, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Alexandre Arkader MD

  4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    John P. Dormans MD

  5. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 2nd Floor Wood Center, 34th and Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-4399, USA

    John P. Dormans MD

Authors
  1. Gökçe Mik MD
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  2. Alexandre Arkader MD
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  3. Alexander Manteghi BS
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  4. John P. Dormans MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John P. Dormans MD.

Additional information

Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the human protocol for this investigation, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study was obtained.

This work was performed at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

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Mik, G., Arkader, A., Manteghi, A. et al. Results of a Minimally Invasive Technique for Treatment of Unicameral Bone Cysts. Clin Orthop Relat Res 467, 2949–2954 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-009-1008-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-009-1008-2

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