Aneurysmal bone cyst healing response with intramedullary lengthening nail

We report the treatment process of a pediatric patient with deformity and shortening in the arm after a recurrent aggressive aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) in the proximal humerus. The patient was treated with curettage of the lesion and lengthening on an intramedullary nail following an osteotomy just distal to the ABC. The period of lengthening was approximately 50 days. At the end of the treatment the lengthening goal was achieved without any neurovascular complication. There was a minimal loss in shoulder hyperabduction due to the deformity of the humeral head.