Therapeutic Approach to Humeral Pathologic Fracture Caused by Benign Bone Tumor / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to suggest an appropriate therapeutic approach by making a comparison between conservative therapy and surgical therapy for a pathologic fractures of the humerus caused by benign bone tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected 15 cases with a pathologic fracture of the humerus caused by benign bone tumor from January 2000 to April 2014 to evaluate the fracture union period and remission of primary bone tumor. Eight cases were treated with conservative therapy, and 7 cases by surgical therapy. The mean age was 13.1 years, and the age range was between 1 year and 19 years; there were 8 male cases and 7 female cases. The mean follow-up period was 24.9 months, with a range from 4 months to 72 months. We evaluated the remission of primary benign tumor in accordance with the ‘Modified Neer classification’ system. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in age, sex, and mean follow-up period between the two groups. The pathologic fracture was united in all cases without secondary displacement. There was no statistically significant difference in the fracture union period (p=0.164) and remission of primary benign tumor (p=0.931) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: We suggest that both conservative and surgical therapies can be a treatment for pathologic fracture of the humerus caused by benign bone tumor.