[Recurrence of solitary enchondroma at the hand after operative treatment].
OBJECTIVE
Solitary enchondroma is the most common bone tumour at the hand. Nevertheless there are only a few studies referring to a recurrence of this lesion after operative treatment.


METHODS
21 patients (17 women/4 men) were examined retrospectively 2 to 18 (mean: 9) years after operative treatment. Clinical and radiological examinations were performed. 3 to 4 years later 9 of these patients were re-examined. 1 patient was first seen at the time of the second examination. Recurrence was the endpoint of the study.


RESULTS
At the first examination 11 patients had normal cancellous bone structure 4 to 18 (mean: 8) years after operative treatment. 7 patients had remaining bone defects and their follow-up was 2 to 15 (mean: 8) years. Recurrence was found in 3 patients 11 to 17 years postoperatively. Through the re-examination of 9 patients 2 further recurrences were found 4 to 6 or, respectively, 11 to 14 years postoperatively arising from remaining defects. Another remaining defect became normal cancellous bone structure 2 to 5 years postoperatively. Over all 6 recurrences were found in 22 patients. All patients were free of clinical symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Recurrence may occur even more than 10 years postoperatively. Therefore we recommend periodical radiological re-examination for recurrence before weakness of bone can lead to a pathological fracture. Re-examination intervals of 2 to 5 years would probably be adequate.
Gaulke
R
R
Unfallchirurgie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover. gaulke.ralph@mh-hannover.de
Suppelna
G
G
Hildebrand
F
F
Brand
J
J
Hüfner
T
T
Krettek
C
C
D002812:Chondroma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006225:Hand / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome