GROWTH DISTURBANCES ASSOCIATED WITH UNTREATED BENIGN BONE CYSTS

Background: The occurrence of benign bone cysts adjacent to an active physis may be associated with a physeal arrest. That arrest may result from physeal penetration of the cysts itself, secondary pathologic fracture or the result of surgical curettage. Methods : The pre-treatment X-rays of patients attending the Bone Tumor Clinic at the Children's Hospital and Medical Center were reviewed. Those patients presenting with a bone cyst were identified and the affected side was compared to the normal side in order to determine growth discrepancies. Results: Three cases of benign bone cysts are presented that were located adjacent to a growing physis and produced growth disturbance in the absence of surgical intervention. Conclusions: The risk of growth disturbance in itself should not be a contraindication to surgical intervention.