Current Trends and Variations in the Treatment of Unicameral Bone Cysts of the Humerus: A Survey of EPOS and POSNA Members.

BACKGROUND: A variety of treatment methods have so far been described for unicameral bone cysts (UBC). However, to the best of our knowledge, no particular consensus has yet been reached on when to operatively treat a patient with a humeral UBC. Therefore, members of the European Pediatric Orthopedic Society (EPOS) and Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America (POSNA) were surveyed to characterize current treatment preferences. METHODS: An online electronic questionnaire was sent out to all registered EPOS and POSNA members. The survey comprised 45 questions related to the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up characteristics of patients with UBCs of the humerus. Particular questions related to the nonoperative or surgical treatment of pathologic proximal humerus and humeral shaft fractures were also included. RESULTS: In total, 444 participants (132 EPOS and 292 POSNA members) responded, of whom 400 were actively involved in UBC treatment. The preferred diagnostic modalities to confirm the diagnosis of a UBC in the humerus were radiographs (88%), MRI in cases of questionable diagnosis (58%) or CT scan (8%). For painless UBCs 67% prefer no treatment at all except when the fracture risk is deemed high (then 53% recommend surgery); 71% of respondents would treat painful UBCs with surgery. Most common surgical techniques comprise curettage (45%), artificial bone substitutes (37%), corticosteroid injection (29%), or intramedullary stabilization (eg, rodding; 24%).Fractured, nondisplaced and mildly displaced proximal humerus UBCs and mildly displaced pathologic humerus shaft fractures are all preferably treated nonoperatively (94%, 91%, 83%, respectively). Severely displaced pathologic proximal humerus fractures are treated less often conservatively (36%) than surgically (40%), and severely displaced humerus shaft fractures are preferably treated surgically (63%) by intramedullary stabilization (60%). CONCLUSIONS: There is great variation among EPOS and POSNA members with regards to the diagnosis and treatment of UBCs in the humerus. Although some consensus on general treatment principles is seen, specific surgical treatment indications vary.Prospective randomized-controlled studies are needed to evaluate the outcomes of the different surgical approaches compared with nonoperative strategies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V-expert opinion.

Intraosseous Neurothekeoma of the Hand in a 16-year-old Boy.

Soft-tissue tumors are rare in the pediatric population. First described in 1969 as myxoma of the nerve sheath, the neurothekeoma is a benign tumor lesion with presumable origin in the nerve sheath. It occurs mainly in female children and presents as a mass of slow, subcutaneous growth, asymptomatic and without alteration of the local pigmentation. It is predominantly located in the head, neck, and extremities of the upper limbs. This report presents the case of a 16-year-old male with a tumor mass originating from the nerve sheath in the 4 th left metacarpal, intraosseous, and relapsed after previous surgical resection 2 years before this observation. A marginal resection of the tumor mass was performed on the distal region of the fourth metacarpal, followed by curettage of the proximal phalanx and filling with structural autologous bone graft. The patient maintained a favorable postoperative clinical evolution, without local pain or range of motion limitation in his fingers. Radiologically, a progressive trabecular filling of the proximal phalanx of the fourth metacarpal was observed. At 17 months of follow-up, the patient is asymptomatic and shows no signs of relapse. The description of this case serves to increase the familiarity with this rare pathology, and aid its diagnosis and treatment.

Intraosseous Neurothekeoma of the Hand in a 16-year-old Boy / Neurotequeoma intraósseo da mão de um jovem de 16 anos

Abstract Soft-tissue tumors are rare in the pediatric population. First described in 1969 as myxoma of the nerve sheath, the neurothekeoma is a benign tumor lesion with presumable origin in the nerve sheath. It occurs mainly in female children and presents as a mass of slow, subcutaneous growth, asymptomatic and without alteration of the local pigmentation. It is predominantly located in the head, neck, and extremities of the upper limbs. This report presents the case of a 16-year-old male with a tumor mass originating from the nerve sheath in the 4th left metacarpal, intraosseous, and relapsed after previous surgical resection 2 years before this observation. A marginal resection of the tumor mass was performed on the distal region of the fourth metacarpal, followed by curettage of the proximal phalanx and filling with structural autologous bone graft. The patient maintained a favorable postoperative clinical evolution, without local pain or range of motion limitation in his fingers. Radiologically, a progressive trabecular filling of the proximal phalanx of the fourth metacarpal was observed. At 17 months of follow-up, the patient is asymptomatic and shows no signs of relapse. The description of this case serves to increase the familiarity with this rare pathology, and aid its diagnosis and treatment.

Resumo Os tumores dos tecidos moles são raros em idade pediátrica. Descrito pela primeira vez 1969 como um mixoma da bainha nervosa, o neurotequeoma é uma lesão tumoral benigna com presumível origem na bainha nervosa. Ocorre maioritariamente em crianças do sexo feminino e apresenta-se como uma massa de crescimento lento, subcutânea, assintomática e sem alteração da pigmentação local. Localiza-se predominantemente na cabeça, no pescoço, e nas extremidades dos membros superiores. Os autores apresentam um caso clínico de um jovem de 16 anos do sexo masculino com massa tumoral com origem na bainha nervosa no 4º metacarpo esquerdo, intraóssea e recidivada após ressecção cirúrgica 2 anos antes do estudo. Foi feita ressecção marginal da massa tumoral localizada sobre a região distal do quarto metacarpo e curetagem da falange proximal e preenchimento com enxerto ósseo autólogo corticoesponjoso. O paciente apresentou uma evolução clínica pós-operatória favorável, sem queixas álgicas e sem limitações da mobilidade dos dedos da mão. Radiologicamente, foi observado preenchimento trabecular progressivo da falange proximal do quarto metacarpo. Aos 17 meses de seguimento, o paciente se encontra assintomático e não apresenta quaisquer sinais de recidiva. Com a descrição deste caso, os autores pretendem aumentar a familiaridade com essa rara patologia, seu diagnóstico e tratamento.