Review of 16 cases of aneurysmal bone cyst in the proximal femur treated by extended curettage and cryosurgery with reconstruction using autogenous nonvascularized fibula graft

Does cryotherapy decrease the local recurrence rate in the treatment of an aneurysmal bone cyst? A comparative assessment

Curettage with or without the use of adjuvants is the standard of care in the treatment of an aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC). Historically, our approach combined curettage, high-speed burr drilling, and cryoablation. However, treatments varied based on age, tumor location, and surgeon preference. We asked: (1) Does cryoablation in addition to curettage and burr drilling decrease the local recurrence rates? (2) Are there any risk factors for the local recurrence rate? (3) Does cryoablation improve postsurgical functional outcomes in these patients? Patients treated for an ABC, between January 2006 and December 2019 were included in this retrospective analysis. Patient and surgical characteristics, such as age, gender, tumor location, type of treatment, time of follow-up, recurrence rate, and functional outcome measured by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score 1993 (MSTS93) score were compared between those treated with and without cryoablation. Both groups, without cryoablation (n = 88) and with cryoablation (n = 42), showed no significant difference in local recurrence rates (9.1% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.553) and functional outcomes as measured by the MSTS93 score (28.9 vs. 27.8, p = 0.262). Risk factors analyzed did not significantly affect local recurrence risk, except for secondary ABC diagnosis (p = 0.017). The cryoablation group had a more extended follow-up (45.6 vs. 73.2 months, p < 0.001), reflecting a shift in practice over time. We found no significant difference in local recurrence rate or functional outcome in patients treated with or without cryoablation. Formal curettage with additional high-speed burr drilling provides effective tumor control and favorable functional outcomes, negating the need for adjuvant cryoablation.

Pathological Fractures in Aneurysmal Bone Cysts: A Systematic Review

Background: Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are osteolytic, non-malignant, vascular lesions of the bone. Pathological fractures can be a manifestation of the ABCs, which occur in about 8% of ABCs. Different treatments have been described in the literature, but, nowadays, an optimal management of the pathological fractures in patients with ABCs is still a matter of debate and there are no standard guidelines for treatment nor any shared indication about the best surgical intervention. The aim of our study is to review the current literature available on this matter exploring and confronting different surgical treatments for pathological fractures in ABC in order to clarify the surgical approach to these patients. Methods: A systematic review of the literature indexed in PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases was carried out. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematically Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) were followed. Results: A total of 37 articles were relevant and were finally included in the study. In total, we reached a population of 140 patients. Of the 140 patients included in the review, 124 patients (88.6%) underwent curettage surgery, 15 patients (10.7%) underwent en bloc resection surgery. A total of 47% of patients (70) underwent synthesis surgery with a plate, screw, nail, or external fixator. Adjuvant treatments were used in 8.6% of patients (12). Complications involved 20.7% of the patients (29). Conclusions: In conclusion, the treatment of pathological fractures in aneurysmal bone cysts requires careful patient assessment, considering factors such as age, the presence of open growth plates, the location of the lesion, and the surgeon's expertise.

Aneurysmal bone cysts: A UK wide tumor center experience

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

This multicenter retrospective series of consecutive extra-spinal aneurysmal bone cysts aims to identify risk factors for treatment failure.

METHODS

Aneurysmal bone cysts treated within seven collaborating centers with over 12-months follow-up were eligible for inclusion. Survival analyses were performed to identify variables associated with recurrence using log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazard regression.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifteen (M:F 60:55) patients were included. Median age at presentation was 13 years and median follow-up was 27 months. Seventy-five patients underwent surgical curettage and 27% of these required further intervention for recurrence. Of the 30 patients who underwent biopsy with limited percutaneous curettage as initial procedure, 47% required no further treatment. Patients under 13 years (log-rank p = 0.006, HR 2.3, p = 0.011) and those treated who had limited curettage (log-rank p = 0.001, HR 2.7, p = 0.002) had a higher risk of recurrence/persistence.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a high risk of recurrence following surgical treatment for aneurysmal bone cysts and this risk is higher in young patients. However, the cyst heals in a substantial number of patients who have a limited curettage at the time of biopsy.

Management of aggressive recurrent thoracic spine aneurysmal bone cyst in a 7-year-old male: A case report and review of the literature

Background

Spinal aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are rare, histologically benign tumors with aggressive behavior, which may cause bone and soft-tissue destruction, particularly affecting neural elements. Management of these tumors, including treatment modalities and follow-up protocols, remains challenging.

Case Description

A 7-year-old boy presented with chest wall pain persisting for two months before admission, accompanied by progressive mono paresis lasting ten days before admission. Myelopathy signs were evident during the examination. Imaging confirmed a multicystic lesion at the T6 level involving the posterior elements of the vertebra, with significant cord compression. Due to deteriorating neurological function, he underwent urgent laminectomy and neural decompression, followed by subtotal tumor resection. Postoperative histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of an ABC, and the patient experienced significant neurological recovery. However, after 21 days, the patient was readmitted to the emergency department with severe paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed rapid growth of the residual tumor, leading to cord compression. He underwent aggressive total tumor resection, T6 vertebral body corpectomy, and fixation with pedicle screws and cage insertion. Following the second surgery, prompt neurological recovery occurred.

Conclusion

This rare case report emphasizes the importance of a close follow-up protocol for spinal ABCs in the pediatric population. It highlights the challenges in managing these tumors and the need for vigilant monitoring to detect and address rapid recurrences.

Perioperative complications of using freezing nitrogen ethanol composite to treat bone tumors: Clinical experience from a single center

BACKGROUND

The cryoablation efficacy of semisolid freezing nitrogen ethanol composite (FNEC) has been demonstrated. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of adjuvant FNEC-assisted cryoablation in different bone cavity types by assessing the perioperative complication rates.

METHODS

The medical charts of patients who received intraoperative adjuvant cryoablation using semisolid FNEC for bone tumors from December 2013 to January 2018 were reviewed. The bone cavities were categorized into three types according to liquid spill potential (type 1, able to hold liquid without limb manipulation; type 2, required extensive limb manipulation to retain liquid; type 3, unable to retain liquid). The overall complication rate and the complication rates stratified by bone cavity type were determined.

RESULTS

Among the 76 patients, 30.3%, 57.9%, and 11.8% had type 1, 2, and 3 bone cavities, respectively. The mean follow-up time for perioperative complications was 43.5 ± 24.1 days. Five patients experienced complications, including two cases of skin damage, two cases of skin infection, and one case of fracture, yielding an overall perioperative complication rate of 6.4%. All cases of skin damage and skin infection were superficial and manageable by oral antibiotics. The patient with a pathologic fracture recovered well after being treated with open reduction and plate fixation. No neuropraxia was noted within the first few days postsurgery in any patient. The complication rates in type 1, 2, and 3 bone cavities were 13%, 4.6%, and 0%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

All bone cavity types had a low incidence of perioperative complications after treatment with adjuvant FNEC-assisted cryoablation. Semisolid FNEC-assisted cryoablation is a feasible alternative to overcome the liquid spill potential in bone cavities resulting from tumor resection and intralesional curettage.

Effect of Local Adjuvants Following Curettage of Benign and Intermediate Tumours of Bone: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Local adjuvants are used upon intralesional resection of benign/intermediate bone tumours, aiming at reducing the local recurrence (LR) rate. However, it is under debate whether, when and which local adjuvants should be used. This PRISMA-guideline based systematic review aimed to analyse studies reporting on the role of adjuvants in benign/intermediate bone tumours. All original articles published between January 1995 and April 2020 were potentially eligible. Of 344 studies identified, 58 met the final inclusion criteria and were further analysed. Articles were screened for adjuvant and tumour type, follow-up period, surgical treatment, and development of LR. Differences in LR rates were analysed using chi-squared tests. Altogether, 3316 cases (10 different tumour entities) were analysed. Overall, 32 different therapeutic approaches were identified. The most common were curettage combined with high-speed burr (n = 774; 23.3%) and high-speed burr only (n = 620; 18.7%). The LR rate for studies with a minimum follow-up of 24 months (n = 30; 51.7%) was 12.5% (185/1483), with the highest rate found in GCT (16.7%; 144/861). In comparison to a combination of curettage, any adjuvant and PMMA, the sole application of curettage and high-speed burr (p = 0.015) reduced the LR rate in GCT. The overall complication rate was 9.6% (263/2732), which was most commonly attributable to postoperative fracture (n = 68) and osteoarthritis of an adjacent joint during follow-up (n = 62). A variety of adjuvants treatment options are reported in the literature. However, the most important step remains to be thorough curettage, ideally combined with high-speed burring.

Do's and Don'ts in Primary Aneurysmal Bone Cysts of the Proximal Femur in Children and Adolescents: Retrospective Multicenter EPOS Study of 79 Patients

BACKGROUND

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABC) are rare benign cystic bone tumors, generally diagnosed in children and adolescents. Proximal femoral ABCs may require specific treatment strategies because of an increased pathologic fracture risk. As few reports are published on ABCs, specifically for this localization, consensus regarding optimal treatment is lacking. We present a large retrospective study on the treatment of pediatric proximal femoral ABCs.

METHODS

All eligible pediatric patients with proximal femoral ABC were included, from 11 tertiary referral centers for musculo-skeletal oncology (2000-2021). Patient demographics, diagnostics, treatments, and complications were evaluated. Index procedures were categorized as percutaneous/open procedures and osteosynthesis alone. Primary outcomes were: time until full weight-bearing and failure-free survival. Failure was defined as open procedure after primary surgery, >3 percutaneous procedures, recurrence, and/or fracture. Risk factors for failure were evaluated.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine patients with ABC were included [mean age, 10.2 (±SD4.0) y, n=56 male]. The median follow-up was 5.1 years (interquartile ranges=2.5 to 8.8).Index procedure was percutaneous procedure (n=22), open procedure (n=35), or osteosynthesis alone (n=22). The median time until full weight-bearing was 13 weeks [95% confidence interval (CI)=7.9-18.1] for open procedures, 9 weeks (95% CI=1.4-16.6) for percutaneous, and 6 weeks (95% CI=4.3-7.7) for osteosynthesis alone ( P =0.1). Failure rates were 41%, 43%, and 36%, respectively. Overall, 2 and 5-year failure-free survival was 69.6% (95% CI=59.2-80.0) and 54.5% (95% CI=41.6-67.4), respectively. Risk factors associated with failure were age younger than 10 years [hazard ratios (HR)=2.9, 95% CI=1.4-5.8], cyst volume >55 cm 3 (HR=1.7, 95% CI=0.8-2.5), and fracture at diagnosis (HR=1.4, 95% CI=0.7-3.3).

CONCLUSIONS

As both open and percutaneous procedures along with osteosynthesis alone seem viable treatment options in this weight-bearing location, optimal treatment for proximal femoral ABCs remains unclear. The aim of the treatment was to achieve local cyst control while minimizing complications and ensuring that children can continue their normal activities as soon as possible. A personalized balance should be maintained between undertreatment, with potentially higher risks of pathologic fractures, prolonged periods of partial weight-bearing, or recurrences, versus overtreatment with large surgical procedures, and associated risks.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, therapeutic study.

Surgical Management of Benign Tumors of the Proximal Fibula

Benign tumors of the proximal fibula are clinically notable, often resulting in pain, cosmetic defects, and potential neurovascular compromise. These symptomatic lesions warrant surgical consultation, but specific procedure selection remains a topic of ongoing discussion. The fibula is widely considered an expendable bone, which permits a greater variety of surgical options relative to other skeletal locations. As a result, some authors suggested en bloc resections without reconstruction as a viable first-line option to decrease tumor recurrence risk. However, wide resections may still result in diminished postoperative functionality compared with the standard intralesional and marginal approaches. Thus, surgical management remains a multifactorial decision, and often orthopaedic surgeons rely on past clinical experience or surgical preference within this unique tumor location. This detailed review will summarize the published literature and discuss the outcomes and indications of various surgical approaches for benign tumors of the proximal fibula. Emphasis will be placed on balancing tumor recurrence risk and postoperative functionality within the context of histologic diagnoses and surgical approaches.

Management of the Cavity After Removal of Giant Cell Tumor of the Bone

Purpose: To find out the most appropriate management scheme through the analysis and comparison of different inactivation methods and filling materials. Method: A systematic literature search was performed using the terms, anhydrous ethanol, phenol, hypertonic saline, cryotherapy, thermal therapy, bone reconstruction, GCTB, and etc., Selected articles were studied and summarized. The mechanism, clinical effects, and influence on bone repair of various methods are presented. Recent developments and perspectives are also demonstrated. Recent Findings: Compared to curettage alone, management of the residual cavity can effectively reduce the recurrence of giant cell tumours of bone. It is a complex and multidisciplinary process that includes three steps: local control, cavity filling, and osteogenic induction. In terms of local control, High-speed burring can enlarge the area of curettage but may cause the spread and planting of tumour tissues. Among the inactivation methods, Anhydrous ethanol, and hyperthermia therapy are relatively safe and efficient. The combination of the two may achieve a better inactivation effect. When inactivating the cavity, we need to adjust the approach according to the invasion of the tumour. Filling materials and bone repair should also be considered in management.

Surgical treatment of benign osteolytic lesions in the femoral head and neck: a systematic review

Background and objectives

Treatment of benign osteolytic lesions in the femoral head and neck can be extremely challenging, particularly in children with open physis or for aggressive tumors with pathological fracture. There remains the difficult management decision as to whether to perform complete excision of the involved area or only curettage. Moreover, there is no agreed consensus on the optimal approach to lesion access when performing curettage, which included the transcervical, open and direct approach. The current systematic review aims to provide guidance for selection of surgical methods in clinical practice by comparing the advantages and drawbacks of different procedures.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases were executed for human studies restricted to the English language. The search was filtered to include studies published from January 1980 to January 2020.

Results

A total of 33 articles including 274 patients were enrolled in the final analysis. The most common diagnosis was chondroblastoma (CBT) (104, 38.0%), followed by giant cell tumor (GCT) (56, 20.4%). There were 57 (20.8%) patients with pathological fracture. Intralesional curettage was performed in 257 (93.8%) patients with the local recurrence of 12.5% at the mean follow-up of 51.5 months. The patients who were presented with open physis or curetted via transcervical approach developed higher local recurrence in patients with CBT (P < 0.001). The local recurrence rate of GCT is 33.3% after curettage, while 8 of 9 (88.9%) patients with fracture were treated successfully with joint preservation. Two of 45 (4.4%) patients developed avascular necrosis (AVN) of femoral head after surgical hip dislocation. The reported Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) Score was comparable among patients with different approaches to curettage.

Conclusion

The majority of benign osteolytic lesions in the femoral head and neck can be treated with intralesional curettage with acceptable local tumor control and satisfactory function. The incidence of local recurrence might be decreased dramatically for lesion access under direct visualization. The native joint maintenance could be achieved even in patients with aggressive lesions presenting pathological fracture.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12891-021-04442-y.

Biological reconstruction of the proximal femur after treatment of benign lesions: comparison of functional and oncological outcomes for children and adults

PURPOSE

Describe and compare the functional and oncological outcomes and complications between paediatric and adult patients after intra-lesional treatment of benign tumours of the proximal femur, stabilised with an autologous non-vascularised fibular strut graft (NVFSG).

METHODS

Retrospective review including 54 patients with a benign histopathological diagnosis treated between 1987 and 2018. The mean age at operation was 17 years (range, 3 to 37 years) with a median follow-up of 39.5 months (IQR 46.7 months). Patients were grouped according to their age at diagnosis (< 16 years versus ≥ 16 years). Data collection included weight-bearing status, Musculoskeletal Tumour Society (MSTS) score, local recurrence, revision surgery and complications. Local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and revision-free survival (RFS) were calculated and compared between groups.

RESULTS

The median MSTS score for all patients was 98.3% (IQR 6.7%) without a statistically significant difference (p = 0.146) between both groups. The median time to full weight-bearing was 12 weeks (IQR 0 weeks). Local recurrence occurred in five (9%) patients. LRFS for all patients was 96% at 2 years and 88% at 5 years. Although local recurrence was more frequent in the paediatric group, LRFS did not significantly differ (p = 0.155, 95% CI 223.9 to 312.3) between both groups. Reoperation rate was 13% and was indicated for local recurrence, post-operative fracture, graft resorption and avascular necrosis. RFS for all patients was 90% at 2 years and 85% at 5 years. There was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.760, 95% CI 214.1 to 304.6) regarding RFS between both groups.

CONCLUSION

The use of an autogenous NVFSG after intra-lesional curettage of benign proximal femoral lesions allows for a biological, structural stabilisation without additional osteosynthesis, hastening weight-bearing and avoiding metalwork-related complications with minimal post-operative morbidity and complications and excellent functional and oncological outcome for both children and adults.

Efficacy of treatment interventions for primary aneurysmal bone cysts: a systematic review

AIMS

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are locally aggressive lesions typically found in the long bones of children and adolescents. A variety of management strategies have been reported to be effective in the treatment of these lesions. The purpose of this review was to assess the effectiveness of current strategies for the management of primary ABCs of the long bones.

METHODS

A systematic review of the published literature was performed to identify all articles relating to the management of primary ABCs. Studies required a minimum 12-month follow-up and case series reporting on under ten participants were not included.

RESULTS

A total of 28 articles meeting the eligibility criteria were included in this review, and all but one were retrospective in design. Due to heterogeneity in study design, treatment, and outcome reporting, data synthesis and group comparison was not possible. The most common treatment option reported on was surgical curettage with or without a form of adjuvant therapy, followed by injection-based therapies. Of the 594 patients treated with curettage across 17 studies, 86 (14.4%) failed to heal or experienced a recurrence. Similar outcomes were reported for 57 (14.70%) of the 387 patients treated with injection therapy across 12 studies. Only one study directly compared curettage with injection therapy (polidocanol), randomizing 94 patients into both treatment groups. This study was at risk of bias and provided low-quality evidence of a lack of difference between the two interventions, reporting success rates of 93.3% and 84.8% for injection and surgical treatment groups, respectively.

CONCLUSION

While both surgery and sclerotherapy are widely implemented for treatment of ABCs, there is currently no good quality evidence to support the use of one option over the other. There is a need for prospective multicentre randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on interventions for the treatment of ABCs. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(2):125-133.

Clinical observation of mineralized collagen bone grafting after curettage of benign bone tumors

Curettage of benign bone tumor is a common cause for bone defect. For such bone defect repair, autogenous bone, allogeneic bone and traditional artificial bone graft substitutes have many disadvantages. In recent years, a biomimetic mineralized collagen (MC) with similar composition and microstructures to the natural bone matrix was developed and used for treating various bone defects. In this work, a retrospective study analyzed clinical outcomes of patients treated with curettage of benign bone tumors and bone grafting with MC, in comparison to another group treated with the same surgical method and autogenous bone. Lane–Sandhu X-ray score of the autogenous bone group was superior to the MC group at 1 month after the operation, but the two groups had no statistical difference at 6 and 12 months. The MC group was better in Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scoring at 1 and 6 months after the operation, and the two groups had no statistical difference at 12 month. Therefore, the MC performed not as good as autogenous bone in early stage of bone healing but achieved comparable outcomes in long-term follow-ups. Moreover, the MC has advantages in function recovery and avoided potential complications induced by harvesting autogenous bone.