Surgical Treatment of an Aneurysmal Bone Cyst with Avascular Bone Graft.

Abstract

We present the case of a 14 year old pacient submitted for pain and deformity at the distal third of the right forearm with insidious onset and exacerbated lately. Following clinical investigations, laboratory and histopathology he was diagnosed with aneurysmal bone cyst of the right ulna. Since sclerotherapy is not available in our clinic, we initially performed an excisional biopsy with curettage of the lesion. Because the tumor still had an aggressive postoperative evolution, we decided for a bone resection and reconstruction using an avascular peroneal graft. Postoperative, the patient presents a favorable short and medium term evolution, the disappearance of pain and resumed function of the affected segment. Radiologically bone graft integration can be observed, with no evidence of local recurrence. Although modern tehniques for treating anurysmal bone cyst include either injecting fibrosing alcoholic agents or resection and grafting using vascular bone graft, the traditional tehnique described by Merle d'Aubigne which implies the usage of avascular bone graft is still heplful, leading to succesful results especially in the upper limbs.