Solitary Bone Cyst

Abstract

In a study of 177 solitary bone cysts treated by curettage and packing with freeze-dried cancellous bone allograft, ninety-seven (55 per cent) completely healed, sixty-four (36 per cent) recurred to such an extent that reoperation was indicated, and sixteen (9 per cent) had a non-progressive residual defect that did not require an operation. The over-all recurrence rate was 45 per cent. The ratio of male to female patients was three to one. Bone cysts occurred and recurred more frequently in the younger (twelve years old or less) patients. Bone cysts in the humerus and femur were most frequent, having a predilection for the proximal end of the bone. Cysts in the humerus healed less often than those in the femur. There was an even lower recurrence rate in the less common sites of occurrence. Active cysts (adjacent to an open growth plate) recurred more often than latent cysts. Cysts in which postoperative roentgenograms reveal areas that are incompletely packed have a higher recurrence rate than those that are completely packed, with the recurrence usually being in the incompletely packed area. Freeze-dried cancellous bone allograft is a satisfactory material to use in the curettage and packing of a solitary bone cyst.