Osteoid osteoma after a femoral shaft fracture

An osteoid osteoma was discovered at the site of fusion of a mid-third femo ral shaft fracture in an 18-year-old girl. This unusual localization was re vealed by persistent pain after ablation of the material after fracture hea ling. Postoperatively, a discharge from the skin wound that persisted for a few days, raised the differential diagnosis between low-grade bone infecti on and an osteoid osteoma suggested by the patient's age and the clinical p resentation. Computed tomography and leukocyte-labeled bone scintigraphy pr ovided the diagnosis of osteoid osteoma that was confirmed at pathology exa mination after resection. Isotopic mapping of this very small, intraosseous lesion that exhibited strong isotope uptake was particularly contributive.