Treatment for hand enchondroma with curettage and calcium sulfate pellet (OsteoSet®) grafting

Abstract

Enchondroma is the most common benign tumor that frequently occurs in hand. Curettage followed by augmentation of the void defect is the mainstay of enchondroma treatment such as autologous bone grafting or using bone graft substitutes. In this study, we analyzed the surgical results of a hand enchondroma treated by curettage and grafting with calcium sulfate pellet (OsteoSet®, Wright Medical Co, USA) grafting. Eighteen patients with hand enchondroma were reviewed. There were seven male cases and eleven female cases with the mean age of 35.4 years (range, 12–55). Involved bones were metacarpal (5 cases), proximal phalanx (7 cases), middle phalanx (3 cases) and distal phalanx (3 cases). The mean follow-up period was 32 months (range, 18–48). We analyzed the clinical result and radiologic appearance of the surgically treated digits. The resorption of calcium sulfate pellet and bone remodeling were checked by serial radiographs. The mean time for complete pellet resorption was postoperative 4 weeks (range, 3–6 weeks). Bone remodeling was completed in all cases at mean postoperative 10 weeks (range, 7–11). All surgically treated digits had full range of motion except one digit that was fixed with K-wire to treat a pathologic fracture simultaneously. No other complications and local recurrence were encountered. Curettage and calcium sulfate pellet (OsteoSet®) grafting proved to be a safe, promising modality for treatment for hand enchondroma. It led to excellent functional and radiologic results.