Five polyostotic conditions that general orthopedic surgeons should recognize (or should not miss)

Update on the imaging features of the enchondromatosis syndromes

Ollier disease and Maffucci syndrome are the commonest enchondromatosis subtypes, arising from non-hereditary mutations in the IDH1 and IDH2 genes, presenting in childhood and being characterised by multiple enchondromas. Maffucci syndrome also includes multiple soft tissue haemangiomas. Aside from developing bony masses, osseous deformity and pathological fracture, ~ 40% of these patients develop secondary central chondrosarcoma, and there is increased risk of non-skeletal malignancies such as gliomas and mesenchymal ovarian tumours. In this review, we outline the molecular genetics, pathology and multimodality imaging features of solitary enchondroma, Ollier disease and Maffucci syndrome, along with their associated skeletal complications, in particular secondary chondrosarcoma. Given the lifelong risk of malignancy, imaging follow-up will also be explored. Metachondromatosis, a rare enchondromatosis subtype characterised by enchondromas and exostoses, will also be briefly outlined.

Mazabraud's Syndrome: A Case Report and Up-To-Date Literature Review

OBJECTIVE

Mazabraud's syndrome is a rare form of bone fibrous dysplasia associated with intramuscular myxomas. Fibrous dysplasia, is generally localized to pelvis and femur and it results in a fragile bone with deformities, pain, pathological fractures and functional impairment. Intramuscular myxomas, are rare benign mesenchymal neoplasms that exceptionally may evolve to malignant forms.

METHODS

This case report describes a 66-year-old woman with Mazabraud's Syndrome (MS), characterized both by monostotic right femur fibrous dysplasia and by a solitary intramuscular myxoma at the right quadriceps muscle, that underwent a long-term treatment (4 years) with intravenous zoledronic acid.

RESULTS

Zoledronic acid therapy rapidly lowered bone pain together with a reduction of intramuscular myxoma volume, but did not affect the extension of fibrous dysplasia. No adverse effects have been observed during treatment.

CONCLUSION

Highly active bisphosphonates are commonly used for the treatment of bone metabolic disorders and they are generally well tolerated. Zoledronic acid may represent a promising alternative to surgical intervention in MS, although its use in rare form of bone fibrous dysplasias is still controversial.

Multifocal bone and bone marrow lesions in children - MRI findings

Polyostotic bone and bone marrow lesions in children may be due to various disorders. Radiographically, lytic lesions may become apparent after loss of more than 50% of the bone mineral content. Scintigraphy requires osteoblastic activity and is not specific. MRI may significantly contribute to the correct diagnosis and management. Accurate interpretation of MRI examinations requires understanding of the normal conversion pattern of bone marrow in childhood and of the appearances of red marrow rests and hyperplasia. Differential diagnosis is wide: Malignancies include metastases, multifocal primary sarcomas and hematological diseases. Benign entities include benign tumors and tumor-like lesions, histiocytosis, infectious and inflammatory diseases, multiple stress fractures/reactions and bone infarcts/ischemia.

Management of nerve compression in multiple hereditary exostoses: a report of two cases and review of the literature

PURPOSE

Multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE) is a rare autosomal dominant condition that results in the growth of cartilage-capped prominences that often cause nerve compression and injury. Many patients suffer from continued and debilitating chronic pain which leads some to advocate avoiding surgical intervention in patients with multiple hereditary exostoses. We present a review of the literature as well as a case series at our institution in order to evaluate the role of surgery in multiple hereditary exostoses.

METHODS

We searched the literature for reports of patients with multiple hereditary exostoses undergoing surgery for nerve compression. We then reviewed the recent experience at our institution which revealed two patients with multiple hereditary exostoses.

RESULTS

Our literature search revealed that there have been several case series and retrospective analyses in the literature that assess the benefit of surgery in the case of nerve compression caused by exostoses. The majority of these reports are of solitary exostoses. Few reports expand on the role of surgery in patients with multiple hereditary exostoses suffering from nerve compressions secondary to bony overgrowth. A recent review of the experience at our institution revealed two patients with multiple hereditary exostoses who together underwent a total of four surgeries for treatment of peripheral nerve compression resulting in pain or weakness. Postoperative evaluation revealed improvement in pain and/or motor strength following each operation.

CONCLUSION

Based on our experience and literature review, we advocate that nerve compression in selected individuals with multiple hereditary exostoses that results in neurological injury should be considered for nerve decompression and resection of the offending exostosis.

Case report of early aseptic loosening of total hip arthroplasty in monostotic paget disease, a diagnostic challenge

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Paget disease of bone can lead with severe bone destruction.

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Altered bone metabolism in patients with arthroplasties has a difficult diagnosis.

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We propose laboratory studies when severe boen destruction is seen in radiological images from hip implants.

Paget’s disease of bone is a localised chronic osteopathy which produces bone deformities, bone hypervascularity, structural weakness and altered joint biomechanics. Although radiological diagnosis of Paget's disease of bone is usually straightforward, monostotic cases may potentially raise specific problems which require invasive and expensive procedures such as bone biopsies. The pelvis and upper femur are frequently affected, resulting in disabling hip disease that may require total hip arthroplasty. We report a case of Paget disease of bone in an 84-year-old woman, which was initially identified as avascular necrosis of the hip, reason for which she underwent total hip arthroplasty. During follow up, the patient complained about hip pain and in a few months she was not able to walk because of an early loosening with bone destruction. Radiological and laboratory exams were carried out with normal results except for alkaline phosphatase (AP). After treatment with biphosphonates hip pain relieved but hip reconstruction was not possible. In this paper we present an early aseptic loosening of hip arthroplasty due to monostotic Paget’s disease of bone, a rare ethiology of loosening which poses particular diagnostic difficulties prompting an excessive use of excisional biopsies.