Surgical Management of Benign Tumors of the Proximal Fibula

Abstract

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.