Treatment of aneurysmal bone cyst by curettage and hydrogen peroxide as an adjuvant without refilling of the resultant cavity

Abstract

Background Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a rare tumor-like lesion with wide controversy as regards the perfect means of treatment and the way to manage the resulting bony cyst after curettage. Patients and methods The study included 24 patients: 13 were male and the mean age was 12.6 years (range: 6–26 years). Six cases were diagnosed as solid ABC, nine (37.5%) cases were in the proximal femur. All cases were treated by thorough curettage followed by washing the cyst with hydrogen peroxide for 5 min. No bone graft or substitute was used as a filler of the cysts, except strut fibular graft, which was used to stabilize weak cysts in nine cases. Plaster cast was used in 11 cases for external fixation. Follow-up ranged from 12 to 46 months (mean: 25 months). Results All cysts healed without pathological fracture. There was no local recurrence until the end of follow-up. All patients returned back to normal life. Conclusion Thorough curettage with lavage of the cyst with hydrogen peroxide could be an acceptable method of treatment of ABC without the need of refilling of the resulting cavity.