DOS BULLETIN - Dansk Ortopædisk Selskab

2010-378_DOS nr. 3 2010 29/09/10 10:08 Side 100
A Bone Cyst Treated With Corticosteroid Installation
In An Osteopetrotic Child
Zaid Al-Aubaidi, Niels Wisbech Pedersen
Odense university hospital
Background: Osteopetrosis was first described in 1904 by Albers-
Schoenberg, as a phenomenon of increased radiographic density of the
bones. To our knowledge bone cyst formation in osteopetrotic patients
has not previously been described. Bone cyst can weaken the bones even
more and result in a fracture, which is very difficult to treat in this kind
of patients
Purpose: We report a case of a child with autosomal dominant osteopetrosis
and a subtrochanteric bone cyst. The cyst was treated in a minimal
invasive manner with percutaneous bone drilling and local corticosteroid
injection. The cyst resolved completely
Methods: 12 years old boy, with a family history of autosomal dominant
osteopetrosis. An X-ray showed cystic changes in the proximal right
femur. Because of pain and the increased risk of a pathological subtrochanteric
fracture, we treated the patient by percutaneous drilling of
the sclerotic cystic wall, aspiration and local injection with 80mg Depo-
Medro twice.
Findings: X –ray control after 8 months showed complete healing of the
cyst and the patient had total remission of the complains.
Conclusion: Other treatment options would be curettage and bone transplantation.
The present case demonstrates that bone cysts in children suffering
from osteopetrosis can be treated successfully with installation of
corticosteroid and we recommend this treatment as first choice.
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