Abstract
Purpose of study: Curettage with bone grafting is the accepted method of treating benign tumours of the talus. However, the natural history of ungrafted defects at this site is unknown. We report a series of 8 patients (6 male and 2 female) who underwent curettage of the talus without subsequent bone grafting.
Methods and results: 6 patients had chondroblastoma, one had osteoblastoma and one had an intraosseous ganglion. 4 lesions were located in the talar neck, 3 in the talar dome and one in the talar body. Mean age at presentation was 21.7 years. Mean tumour volume was 16cm3 (range 3.5–48cm3). Post-surgical follow-up was collected at a mean of 35 months (range 5–84 months).
The bone defect consolidated fully, with no talar collapse, in all 8 cases. 5 of the 8 patients had no pain and full range of movement at last follow-up. 4 patients had no evidence of osteoarthritis at last follow-up, 2 patients had OA grade 1, one had OA grade 2, and one had OA grade 3 pre-operatively which then progressed to grade 4. One patient had two episodes of local recurrence which were treated by curettage and bone grafting, then by radioablation.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that curettage alone leads to good consolidation of talar defects without an increase in complications. We conclude that bone grafting is not a necessary adjunct to the curettage of talar lesions.
The abstracts were prepared by Mrs Leslie O’Leary. Correspondence should be addressed to her at British Orthopaedic Association, 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE or at l.oleary@boa.ac.uk
