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 fra cture or the result of surgical curettage. Methods: The pre-treatment X-rays of patients attending the Bone Tumor Clinic at the Children's H ospital and Medical Center were reviewed. Those patients presenting wi th a bone cyst were identified and the affected side was compared to t he normal side in order to determine growth discrepancies. Results: Th ree cases of benign bone cysts are presented that were located adjacen t to a growing physis and produced growth disturbance in th absence of surgical intervention. Conclusions: The risk of growth disturbance in itself should not be a contraindication to surgical intervention.