title: Steroid injections in the treatment of humeral unicameral bone cysts: long-term follow-up and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retrospective evaluation of long-term effectiveness of the steroid injections treatment in patients with unicameral bone cysts (UBC).
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 1993 to April 2005, 23 children affected by proximal humeral UBC were evaluated according to the Neer-Cole classification system and treated with serial methylprednisolone acetate's injections. The patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and then every year until the adolescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment, in 15 out of 23 patients (65.2%), the humeral cysts were referred, respectively, as Grade 1 and in four as Grade 2. In 4 patients, a refracture occurred. Statistical analysis showed an overall good response in 82.6% of patients at the end of the follow-up. Minor complication including skin discoloration accounted for 13.04%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The steroid injections showed to be an alternative excellent treatment for UBC, with complete healing of the lesions in the majority of cases. This procedure is not expensive, mini-invasive, with low surgical risk and short hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pavone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caff
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Silvestri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Avondo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sessa
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001845:Bone Cysts / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006811:Humerus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D007267:Injections; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D008775:Methylprednisolone
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