Synovial Osteochondroid Metaplasia of the Elbow Joint Mimicking a Fracture: A Case Report / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

We present here a case of synovial osteochondroid metaplasia of the elbow joint that was almost mistaken for a fracture. A 21-year-old military recruit complained of pain at the elbow after a minor direct injury. Since the imaging studies, including simple radiographs and CT scans, showed a small bony fragment, an operation was performed under the impression of fracture of the elbow joint. There was no evidence of acute injury such as bleeding or swelling, and excisional biopsy was done. The histopathological findings of osteochondroid metaplasia surrounded by fibrous tissue and synovium led to the pathologic diagnosis of synovial osteochondroid metaplasia. Clinicians should include this tumorous entity in differential diagnosis when a bony fragment is seen on the radiographs of an acutely injured subject.