Efficiency of treatment methods for bone cysts of the humerus in pediatric patients

Abstract

Introduction Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a benign, non-neoplastic lesion of the bone, characterized by channels of blood and spaces separated by fibrous septa. Unicameral bone cyst (UBC) is one of the more common noncancerous bone tumors in children. The true number of these tumors is not known because many are never discovered. 75% of the lesions occur in the first two decades of life, and almost 95% occur in the first three decades. The fibula is a strong, long, tubular bone that can be used as a non-vascularized bone graft for restoration of mechanical continuity and efficiency of the limb after bone defects resulting from cyst resection. Aim To compare efficiency of the different treatment methods for bone cysts of the humerus in pediatric patients. Objectives 1. To determine epidemiological data of the patients who suffered from cyst of the humerus. 2. To compare bone structure of the humerus of the same patients’ healthy and surgically treated hand by clinical, X-ray and MRI findings. 3. To evaluate quality of life in patients’ who underwent surgery to treat the cyst of the humerus.Methods This retrospective study involves 34 patients who have been diagnosed with ABC or UBC of the humerus. All of them were treated at LSMU Kaunas Clinics The Children‘s Department of Orthopedics and Trauma from 2000 to 2014. Two types of surgeries were performed on those patients: reconstructions of humerus using non-vascularized fibular graft (radical surgery) or curettage of the cyst and packing with autograft, allograft or other synthetic material (non-radical surgery). We arranged an appointment with 13 patients. Clinical examination, X-rays of the humerus were made[...].