RESUMEN
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of contact cryotherapy as an adjuvant therapy after intralesional curettage and autoiliac bone graft of enchondromas of the hand. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty seven cases in 30 patients (17 males, 13 females) with enchondromas of the hand who underwent curettage, contact cryotherapy and autoiliac bone graft between July 2004 and March 2010 were reviewed with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Radiologic evaluations were done periodically. Mean follow-up period was 26 months (range: 12-54 months). The radiologic results were evaluated according to the degree of new bone formation based on the Tordai's criteria. RESULTS: According to the Tordai's criteria, 33 cases (89%) were group I, and 4 cases (11%) were group II. There was no case of group III, which meant recurrence. Bone healing was achieved at average 4.8 months (range: 4-5.3 months) after the operation. There was no cryotherapy-related complication such as pathologic fracture, bone necrosis and skin necrosis during the follow-up periods. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the contact cryotherapy can be used as an effective adjuvant therapy for treatment of enchondroma of the hand without complications.