FIBROUS DYSPLASIA IN CHILDREN

The authors report a series of 19 children (ten boys and nine girls) p resenting fibrous dysplasia with an average follow-up of 7 years 10 mo nths. Twenty five bones were involved. The average age at diagnosis wa s 9 years (range 3 years to 14 years). Fatigue fractures and pains wer e the main reasons for consultation. The most frequent anatomic sites were the femur, the tibia and the humerus. In six cases it was decided to simply watch the children without any treatment. The clinical resu lts were good for 18 children. In two cases the initial radiological l ytic aspect remained at the longest follow-up. Nine complications (amo ng which two iterative fractures and three recurrences) occured. None of the cases developped malignant transformation. The authors discuss the differents possibilities of treatment with a review of the literat ure.