Surgical treatment and recurrence rate of aneurysmal bone cysts in children

High recurrence rates have been reported after surgical treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts, ranging from 10-59%, and greater (five of seven) in children younger than 10 years. No previous study has focused specifically on recurrence as a function of age in a large pediatric study. The purpose of the current study was to review the outcome of current surgical techniques in the treatment of primary aneurysmal bone cysts in children and to determine if recurrence rates were higher in younger children, as proposed by some authors. This study included 45 children with primary aneurysmal bone cysts with more than 2 years followup after their first treatment using our current four-step surgical technique. The subjects were studied and classified on the basis of their age group (< or = 10 years of age or >10 years of age). The recurrence rate, and other parameters were determined after surgical treatment. Of the 45 children with primary aneurysmal bone cysts, 13 children were 10 years or younger and 32 were older than 10 years. Persistence or recurrence of the lesion requiring additional surgery occurred in three children in the younger age group and in five children in the older age group. The difference in persistence or recurrence rates based on age was not statistically significant. However, the persistence or recurrence rates are lower than previously reported (82% overall success rate after initial surgery).