Giant geode at the olecranon in the rheumatoid elbow--two case reports.
A single giant geode at the olecranon in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is relatively rare, and may cause diagnostic difficulties or cause a spontaneous pathological fracture owing to weakness of the cortical bone associated with osteoporosis. We report two cases of patients presenting with single giant geodes at the olecranon. In one case we performed an open reduction and internal fixation with bone grafting for a pathological fracture due to the geode. In the other case we performed curettage of the geode with bone grafting to prevent a pathological fracture, and a synovectomy of the elbow. We suggest that the presence of a giant geode at the olecranon may necessitate surgical intervention to prevent the occurrence of a spontaneous pathological fracture.
Konan Kakogawa Hospital, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kakogawa, Japan. nnakagawa_kkb@knc.kakogawa.or.jp
Natsuko
N
Nakagawa
Shuji
S
Abe
Yasuhiro
Y
Saegusa
Hiroshi
H
Kimura
Shigeaki
S
Imura
Yasuro
Y
Nishibayashi
Sinichi
S
Yoshiya
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001845:Bone Cysts / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D003475:Curettage; D004551:Elbow Joint; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D000074402:Synovectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014457:Ulna / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery