Treatment of Enchondromas of the Hand with Bone Substitute

Abstract

We report five patients with enchondromas of long bones in the hand. They were successfully treated by curettage and implantation of a biodegradable bone substitute (calcium phosphate). Bone regained normal X-ray appearance by 9 months. The full range of motion and normal function of the hand were restored. There were no complications and no recurrence at follow-up visits 28 months after operation. There are several advantages to this technique. The operative procedure may be performed under local anaesthesia on an out-patient basis and the operative time is shortened. Complications of a cancellous bone donor site are avoided, as are the potential infectious complications of allogenic bone implantation.