ABSTRACT
Chondroblastoma is an uncommon benign bone tumor with a tendency to reoccur after surgical treatment. Between 1994 and 2006, 25 cases diagnosed as chondroblastoma of bone were treated by the authors. The most common site in order of frequency was the distal femur [6 cases], followed by the proximal tibia [5 cases], the proximal humerus [4 cases] and the proximal femur [3 cases]. Other sites included the acetabulum, greater trochanter, lesser trochanter, talus, cuboid, distal humerus and scapula [one case in each]. Five cases had already a local recurrence at presentation. All lesions were curetted and the cavities filled by iliac crest bone graft in 14 cases, cement in 8 cases, bone graft substitutes in one case and nothing in 2 cases. The average follow-up period was 35.6 months [from 6 months and up to 147 months]. All except one patient, who had a double recurrence, had functional MSTS score over 25. Among the 25 patients, two patients had a local recurrence [8%]; one with a chondroblastoma of the pelvis and the other with a chondroblastoma of the proximal humerus. The use of a burr was a technically important step to achieve an adequate curettage in all cases. In conclusion, using cement may have reduced the incidence of local recurrence in comparison to the use of bone grafts. Recurrent cases can still be treated effectively by adequate curettage with low incidence of local recurrence