Treatment of femoral neck and trochanteric simple bone cysts.

INTRODUCTION

Problems associated with common treatment modalities of bone cysts located in the proximal femur include a high blood loss, infection, lack of stability, donor-site morbidity, restriction to normal activity, and high recurrence rate.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Twelve patients with a simple bone cyst of the proximal femur were treated with retrograde flexible nailing. Six showed a pathological fracture. Mean age at surgery was 10.4 years, mean follow-up was 57 months. Radiographs were classified as healed, healed with residuals, recurred, or no response.

RESULTS

The mean healing period was 38.8 months. Two cysts healed completely, nine healed with residuals. There was no recurrence or non-responder. In a fractured cyst a perforation of a nail through the cyst occurred 4 months after nailing.

CONCLUSION

The method is less invasive and offers early stability to the bone without the need for cast immobilization.