Management of chondroblastoma: retrospective review of 28 patients

Background This study retrospectively reviewed 28 patients who presented with chondroblastoma in our hospital during the period March 1986 to February 2006. We investigated factors associated with local recurrence of the tumors after surgery. Methods We recorded the patients' sex and age, the location of the pathology, imaging studies (status of growth plate and activity of lesions), histological findings, and treatment outcomes. Results Pain was the presenting symptom in all patients. The tumors were generally located in the epiphyses or apophyses of long bones, especially in the proximal humerus (9 patients), proximal tibia (7 patients), and proximal femur (5 patients). Our preferred treatment method was generally aggressive curettage of the lesion followed by bone grafting. There was local recurrence in six patients. A secondary aneurysmal bone cyst was present in two patients. Conclusion Aggressive curettage and bone grafting resulted in local control in most patients. Tumor recurrence was not statistically associated with age, sex, growth plate status, tumor location, or tumor activity. The only parameter associated with increased local recurrence was previous surgery for chondroblastoma in the same location.