Osteochondroma: Surgical Therapy

As soon as an osteochondroma causes discomfort, it must be resected (surgically removed). If necessary, any deformities that develop during the procedure can be corrected by osteotomy (cutting through bone).

Indications for surgical intervention are:

  • Impairment of mobility (ability to bend and/or extend the affected joint).
  • Deformities, malformations of nearby bone areas.
  • Pain
  • Suspicion of malignant (malignant) degeneration
  • Growth behavior – continued growth of the osteochondroma, although physiological body growth is complete.

Method of choice for most benign (benign) bone tumors is intralesional resection:

  • Procedure: Opening of the tumor → curettage → filling of the bone defect with autologous (from the same individual) bone material (e.g., from the iliac crest), stabilization with metallic implants (intramedullary nail, angle plate) if necessary.

Cave: The respective nearby growth plate must not be damaged by the operation, otherwise there is a risk of deformation due to disruption of bone growth (if body growth is not yet complete).