Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS) for the Treatment of Non-ossifying Fibroma in the Long Bones of the Lower Extremity

Abstract

Objective: Non-ossifying fibroma (NOF) usually occurs in the second decade of life. Patients with lower extremity lesions are at risk for developing pathologic fractures. The etiology is thought to be faulty ossification rather than true neoplasm. LIPUS promotes bone healing in fractures and might be able to be applied to this rare condition. To our knowledge, however, there have been no reports on this attempt. We experienced 2 cases with large non-ossifying fibromas treated by LIPUS and here present their clinical outcomes. Cases and Results: 12 year-old (case 1) and 13 year-old (case 2) boys had NOF in the distal femur and the proximal tibia. Because NOF occupied the large area of the long bones, we attempted to use LIPUS in both cases. In case 1, NOF gradually disappeared at 2 years after LIPUS treatment. In case 2, NOF was acutely healed after minor fracture of the lesion and spontaneously disappeared. Discussion: Non-ossifying fibroma tend to regress as the skeleton matures. LIPUS might stimulate bone ossification and shorten the duration of NOF healing. Minor fracture or non-invasive drilling will help osteogenesis and NOF healing.