Treatment of unicameral bone cyst by repeated needling

ABSTRACT

An evaluation of the results of repeated needling of a unicameral bone cyst in thirteen patients aged between seven and eighteen years with an average follow up of three years was carried out. Their presenting features was feeling of heaviness, pain or pathological fracture. The diagnosis was made on clinical examination, radiographic picture and the examination of the aspirated fluid. Needling was performed and it was noticed that the cyst did show three pattern of response to needling. Healing was assessed radiologically and the average healing time was between five and six months. The procedure was simple when compared to the conventional method of surgical treatment of the unicameral bone cyst, it has low morbidity and can be done under local anesthesia with a minimum blood loss